Pinellas County Fire and EMS

Echo (E)            Life Threatening Emergency (Patient not breathing, choking, hanging, drowning)

 - ALS Fire Department First Responder—lights and siren

 - ALS Ambulance—lights and siren

 - Basic Life Support Fire Unit responds with lights and siren at fire department’s discretion

Delta (D)           Life Threatening Emergency (Chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, dangerous bleeding)

 - ALS Fire Department First Responder—lights and siren

 - ALS Ambulance—lights and siren

 - Basic Life Support Fire Unit responds with lights and siren if closest ALS first responder is unavailable*

Charlie (C)         Potentially Life Threatening Emergency (Difficulty breathing, non-responsive, stroke, substance overdose, diabetic problems, serious injury)

 - ALS Fire Department First Responder—lights and siren

 - ALS Ambulance—lights and siren

 - Basic Life Support fire unit responds with lights and siren if first/second closest ALS first responder is unavailable**

Bravo (B)           Unknown Situation (Serious bleeding/injury, pregnancy, psychiatric problems)

 - ALS Fire Department First Responder—lights and siren

 - ALS Ambulance—lights and siren

Alpha (A) - High    Non-life threatening situation (High potential for transport)

 - ALS ambulance—non-emergency

Alpha (A) - Low     Non-life threatening situation (Low potential for transport)

 - ALS Fire Department First Responder—non-emergency

*ALS fire unit dispatched may be second closest, if nearer units are unavailable.

**ALS fire unit dispatched may be third closest, if nearer units are unavailable.

 Any of these response modes may be upgraded or downgraded as new information is received.