ASTM F1268-90(2020)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1268 − 90 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Guide for
Establishing and Operating a Public Information, Education,
and Relations Program for Emergency Medical Service
Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1268; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system exists for only one reason—to serve the public. If
the system is to perform its functions, the public must be aware of it and must use it to the fullest
extent. Because the public is an essential part of the EMS system, every EMS system must support
a public information, education, and relations (PIER) component. However, because other elements
such as categorization, critical care protocols, communications, and provider training require as much
time and energy, plus the fact that most administrators lack orientation to public information
principles, there is a tendency to approach the public information, education, and relations component
in a less organized and scientific way. Consequently, PIER may suffer a lower priority and may
become a random or fragmented activity.
The fact is that people do not readily change their attitudes and behavior unless it is specifically and
immediately demonstrated to them that there is a need to do so. In this day of complex media message
sending, it is often difficult to get the attention of the general public in the first place. To achieve a
successful PIER program, it should be an organized and systematic effort, including:
(1)An assessment of the attitudes, awareness, and knowledge about one’s health and access to the
health delivery system;
(2) A determination of the knowledge needs and identifiable components of the general public;
(3) A method for delivery of information that is relevant, accessible, understandable, acceptable,
usable, timely, and cost-effective;
(4) Ensure that, as much as possible, the information is integrated into attitudes and behaviors of
daily living; and
(5) Evaluate PIER objectives to assess whether or not behavioral changes have occurred, with
beneficial effect upon the individual and ultimately society, and adjusting future PIER activities as
indicated.
Education about health matters has to be interesting, enjoyable, uncomplicated, relevant, and have
some evidence of immediate concrete benefit to the individual’s activities. In EMS, some of the
programs are intrinsically appealing: for example, people might readily participate in CPR training as
it represents a dramatic and demonstrable learning process. However, citizens are less enthusiastic
about access information, abuse and misuse messages, or other facts which are to them, less dramatic
and apparently less relevant.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on Emergency
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.03 on
Organization/Management.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F1268 – 90 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/F1268-90R20.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1268 − 90 (2020)
1. Scope Responsibility for this guide will vary by level of authority,
that is, state, regional, and local. (See Guide F1086.)
1.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide national volun-
tary standards and recommendations to effectively provide 4.3 The PIER tasks involve research, planning, production,
emergency medical service system information and education distribution, and evaluation. Production requires significant
to the public. resources and expertise and may be done most appropriately at
the higher level, such as regional, state, and national levels.
1.2 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5. Statement of the Problem
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
5.1 Despite the development and rapid expansion of emer-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
gency medical services following the passage of the Highway
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Safety Act of 1966 and the Emergency Medical Services
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
System Act of 1973, underutilization and improper utilization
2. Referenced Documents of services still exist in the system. The general public lacks
2 information on how to access and use the EMS system
2.1 ASTM Standards:
appropriately.
F1086 Guide for Structures and Responsibilities of Emer-
gency Medical Services Systems Organizations 5.2 The public needs to learn what EMS is and especially
that it is a system, the importance of utilizing EMS, how to
3. Terminology
access it, and what to do and not to do until the ambulance and
therefore the EMS system arrives. If the public knowledge
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
concerning EMS can be improved, then it is likely that
3.1.1 demographics—the study of the descriptive character-
appropriate utilization of EMS will increase.
istics of the population. They have long been used to divide or
segment the population.
6. Elements of a PIER Program for EMS
3.1.2 external PIER attributes—for the public or user of the
6.1 The essential elements of an effective public
EMS system.
information, education, and relations program include, but are
3.1.3 internal PIER attributes—within the EMS system for
not limited to:
its participants and providers.
6.1.1 An understanding of EMS system design and opera-
3.1.4 public education—an activity that conveys knowledge
tion.
or training, or both, in specific skills.
6.1.2 Proper access to the system (9-1-1, telephone, call
box).
3.1.5 public information—an activity that factually teaches
6.1.3 Self help, for example, CPR, First Aid, Vial of Life,
what the EMS system is and how to enter and use it.
Medic Alert, and other emergency data devices.
3.1.6 public information, education, and relations (PIER)
6.1.4 Provision for the appropriate and timely release of
program—the totality of efforts in all three areas. It is ideally
informationonEMSrelatedevents,issues,andpublicrelations
well integrated, unified, focused, with planning and systematic
(damage control).
execution.
6.1.5 Evaluation of EMS.
3.1.7 public information offıcer—a person who disseminates
6.1.5.1 Importance of user and provider input.
appropriate and timely facts.
6.1.5.2 How to effectively collect and assimilate input.
3.1.8 public relations—an activity used to foster positive
6.1.6 Current health and safety habits as they relate to
public attitudes and enhance trust and credibility about the prevention and reduction of health risks for the public and
EMS system and its providers.
providers.
6.1.7 Provision for recruitment campaigns for career and
4. Significance and Use
volunteer personnel in EMS.
4.1 It is essential to have the public’s understanding and
7. Organizational Commitment to and Authority for
support for the EMS system to ensure its proper development
PIER
and utilization.
7.1 There must be an organizational commitment from the
4.2 This guide encompasses those procedures,
EMS system (see Fig. 1).
considerations, and resources that are necessary for a success-
7.2 To have an effective PIER program the chief executive
ful EMS public information, education, and relations program.
Complex EMS systems may integrate or augment, or both, this officer (CEO) must be personally committed to PIER and be
able to make definitive decisions concerning commitment of
guide in its entirety. Less complex systems may need to
collaboratewithotherEMSorganizationsandrelatedagencies. organizational resources. This CEO must assign a PIER
director who has access to the CEO. This person may in some
small areas also be the CEO. The CEO must be continually
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or apprised of the progress of the PIER program.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.3 The organization must designate a responsible and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. committed public information and education person with
F1268 − 90 (2020)
9.2.3 Medical Facilities—These include number, location
(and service area), beds, type, trauma center designation,
teaching facility, and the interface/cooperation with the EMS
system.
9.2.4 Current Public Information and Education
Programs—Theseincludetypeandscopeofexistingprograms,
effectiveness, program costs and funding sources, and related
programs of other organizations and institutions (for example,
AHA, ARC, and so forth).
9.2.5 Current Public Perceptions and Knowledge—This
includes knowledge of existing system structure, capabilities
andquality,accesstothesystem,selfhelpprograms(CPR,first
aid, and related programs), and current health habits, for
NOTE 1—In order to provide the elements of the PIER program, this
example, diet, smoking, exercise, substance abuse, and so
planning model should be followed.
forth, as it is related to prevention and reduction of emergency
FIG. 1 PIER Planning Model
health risks.
9.2.6 Emergency Health Data—This includes morbility/
demonstrated ability who is accountable for the PIER program.
mortality from critical care, subgroups of cardiac, trauma,
This person will also provide the mechanism for establishing
poison, drugs, burns, neonate, CNS, behavioral, and other
standard operating procedures for the occurrence of unplanned
emergency health data that may affect the EMS system. This
events, and appropriate training for PIOs or others assuming
includes prehospital, hospital, and rehabilitation data.
that role. The PIO’s responsibility may include, but not be
9.2.7 Risk Variables (Possible Public Health Hazards and
limited to the news media concerning the nature and extent of
Possible Dangers in Particular Area or System)—These in-
an incident and emergency medical care, for planned or
clude insufficient medical facilities, cultural, occupational,
unplanned events.
criminal, recreational, transportation, system maturity (ALS
versus BLS capabilities), weather, sanitation, disease, and
8. Identify Resources and Funding
geographic considerations (rivers, mountains).
9.2.8 Media Resources—These include type (radio, TV,
8.1 A successful PIER pro
...