Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) involves the combination of what two things? ✔✔Telecommunications skills and medical knowledge The APCO Institute EMD Course is based on information from what two sources? ✔✔National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's EMD: National Standard Curriculum & ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) Prior to this course, APCO requires the completion of what two things? ✔✔APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 course OR Formalized Telecommunicator Training course & current CPR certification What are the responsibilities of the EMD? ✔✔1. Receive and process calls for EMS assistance 2. Determine the nature and severity of the medical incident type without diagnosing the medical problem or condition 3. Coordinating and dispatching EMS resources based in the predetermined response configurations found in the local medically approved EMD guidecards 4. Provides emergency medical assistance using local medically approved guidecards and software 5. Maintain confidentiality 6. Maintain contact with the caller What are the characteristics of a successful EMD? ✔✔1. Helpful, compassionate, and polite 2. Effectively handles the emotional stress involved in caller/patient crisis situations and clearly guides callers 3. Should be clear, concise, and use accurate speech What is the EMS system? ✔✔Complex arrangement of components including:statewide legislation, system management, Human Resources and training, communications, transportation, public information and education, facilities, trauma systems, medical direction, and evaluation * all designed to serve the needs of the public in medical emergencies. All the pieces must be present for the system to be complete What are the common resources of the EMS system? ✔✔*Hospitals* Medical centers/ trauma centers/specialty units/crisis centers/hyperbaric chamber facilities Rescue squads/extrication units helicopters/ *air ambulances* Ambulances Special care facilities: burn centers, prenatal units, psychiatric centers, etc HAZMAT resources Gas and electric utilities *police and fire* Poison control Sexual assault centers/counselors Translator services