Communications Center

The Arvada Fire Protection District operates an inclusive and modern emergency communications center located at Fire Station 6. The center consists of fourteen employees including one manager, eight full time and five part-time communications personnel. All emergency communications for the District’s eight stations are coordinated from this central location. The communications center is staffed with a minimum of two dispatchers at all times. This staffing level has a direct impact on the points awarded through the Insurance Services Office, which impacts the residential and commercial insurance rates for our community. During the past year, the communications center was directly responsible for dispatching over 8,000 emergency requests for service. Of great importance is the fact that dispatchers must be skilled in disseminating critical information and determining what units to respond to a variety of emergency calls including fire, medical, hazardous material, and special rescue emergencies.

Calling 911

Emergency Medical Dispatch:

In 2003, all AFPD dispatchers became nationally certified as Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) providers. The EMD program is a nationally recognized priority dispatch system. There are 40 instruction cards with varying instructions covering all medical situations you the citizen may experience. EMD aids the dispatcher in getting the proper help to you when it is needed.

EMD is designed to obtain as much critical information as needed. Dispatchers can assist callers with pre-arrival instructions, get a clearer picture for incoming units, have equipment respond in the safest manner possible and reassure the caller/patient that help is on the way

What to expect when you call:

The dispatcher will answer by asking “What is the address of the emergency?” You need to know the address you are at. If it is an apartment, know the unit number.
Where, exactly, is the patient? Are they in the bedroom? Are they in the front yard?
What’s the phone number you’re calling from? Even with enhanced 9-1-1 the dispatcher has to confirm the number you are calling from. This is important if you lose communications with the dispatcher they can call you back.
What’s the problem, tell me exactly what happened? Tell the dispatcher exactly what happened. "Martha slipped and hit her head. She is bleeding from a cut on her hand."
Are you with her now? Yes or No. "Martha is out front but I can take the phone out to be with her" or "Martha is in her room and there is no phone access
How old is s/he? If you don’t know exactly an approximate will do.
Is s/he conscious? Yes or No
Is s/he breathing? Yes or No. If you have not checked the dispatcher will ask you to go check and tell them what you found

All of the previous questions are required for AFPD dispatchers to ask when they receive an EMS call.

The Next Step

While you were talking to one dispatcher the other dispatcher was starting fire equipment and an ambulance your way.
From what you have told the dispatcher s/he will determine where to go on the EMD cards

The goal of the EMD system is to provide the best care to our patients not only when the fire department arrives but before their arrival at an emergency. EMD dispatchers also spend time training every quarter to maintain skills using the EMD system. By the information you give the dispatcher and the use of the EMD system the Arvada Fire Department can respond quickly with up-to-date information should you need medical attention.