PNB IRCS - HTH Ambulance New Brunswick (NB)

Introduction

Land and air ambulance services in New Brunswick are provided to the province though a single private sector company named “Ambulance New Brunswick”

Maritimes Scanning Site

Visit the THE MARITIMES SCANNING SITE - NEW BRUNSWICK EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES (http://www.marscan.com/nbambulance.htm) for more information. The topics discuss in the article are :

• History (about the service and the radio system)
• Communications and Dispatch - they don't give the radio codes use on the air-for that, see below
• Air Ambulance
• Ground Ambulance
• Ambulance type and other vehicules
• Ambulance bases
• Crew Shifts and Accommodations
• Medical First Response (MFR)
• OLMC (On-line Medical Control)
• Contact with ER

Regions

ANB has divided the Province of New-Brunswick into 4 operational regions for dispatching purpose : North, East, South & West.

Radio Network

ANB utilizes a conventional VHF system (in the 148MHz and 150-152MHz) for their operations. The same freq is used 2 times for each city. Once as a talkaround (simplex) freq for the city. Again as the dispatch (repeater) freq for the same city

The channel line-up is not continous. It goes from ch 1-18, 31-48, 50, 60, 70. Odd channel number are talkaround (simplex with no tone) freqs and even channel number are dispatch (repeater with a tone usualy 151.4 except for ch. 10 & 12, with a tone of 167.9) freqs for specific cities. For exemple, (ch. 5) 148.765 is the Moncton talkaround freq while (ch. 6) 148.765 with a tone of 151.4 is the dispatch freq.

For a list of all hospitals in the province, their call sign and the dispatch ch. where the medics do their report to that hospital, see http://www.marscan.com/nbhospitalslist.htm

Some freqs are simulcast with other freqs. See map below (PS. I know the map is hard to read - i'm working on clearing it up) File:ANB Radio Network1.jpg

Codes

ANB uses two sets of codes for dispatching : the 10-codes and the ProQA codes(dispatch protocol)

10 codes

• 10-01 = Transfer
• 10-02 = Booked call
• 10-03 = Life threat - lights only
• 10-04 = Priority - lights & siren
• 10-05 = Death at scene - call coronor
• 10-06 = Legally dead
• 10-07 = No patient trans.- patient refused
• 10-09 = Administrative repairs
• 10-21 = CPR in progress

ProQA codes

These codes are use to describe the cheif complaint and condition of the pt

• 1 - Abdominal Pain/Problems

A-1 Abdominal Pain C-1 SUSPECTED aortic aneurysm (tearing/ripping pain) >5- C-2 KNOWN aortic aneurysm C-3 Faint or near faint >5- C-4 Females faint/near faint 12-5- C-5 Males pain above naveel >35 C-6 Females pain above navel >45 D-1 Not Alert

• 2 - Allergies (reactions) / Envenomations (stings, bites)

A-1 No Dyspnoea A-2 Spider bite (no priority symptoms) B-1 Unknown status/other codes not applicable C-1 Dyspnoea C-2 History of severe allergic reaction C-3 Minor Jelly-fish sting D-1 Not alert D-2 Difficulty speaking between breaths D-3 Swarming attack (bee, wasp) D-4 Snakebite D-5 Funnel Web spider D-6 Major Jelly-fish sting E-1 Ineffective Breathing

Suffix I = Injection M = Medication

• 3 - Animal Bites/Attacks

A-1 Not dangerous body area A-2 Non-recent injuries (>6hrs) A-3 Superficial bites B-1 Possibly Dangerous Body Area B-2 Serious Haemorrhage B-3 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Unconscious or Arrest D-2 Not Alert. D-3 Chest or Neck injury (with difficulty breathing) D-4 Dangerous Body Area D-5 large Animal D-6 Exotic Animal D-7 Attack or multiple animals

4 - Assault / Sexual Assault A-1 Not dangerous body area A-2 Non recent injuries (>6 hrs) B-1 Possibly Dangerous Body Area B-2 Serious Haemorrhage B-3 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Unconscious or Arrest D-2 Not alert. D-3 Chest or Neck injury (with difficulty breathing) D-4 Multiple Victims

Suffix A = Assualt S = Sexual Assualt

5 - Back Pain (Non-traumatic) A-1 Non-traumatic back pain A-2 Non-recent traumatic back pain (>6 hrs) C-1 SUSPECTED aortic aneurysm (tearing/ripping) >5- C-2 KNOWN aortic aneurysm C-3 Fainting or near fainting >5- D-1 Not Alert

6 - Breathing problems C-1 Abnormal Breathing D-1 Non alert D-2 Difficulty speaking between breaths D-3 Changing Colour D-4 Clammy E-1 Ineffective Breathing

Suffix A = Asthma

7 - Burns (scalds)/Explosion A-1 Burns <18% A-2 Fire Alarm ( Unknown Status) A-3 Sunburn or minor burns (<hand size) B-1 Blanst injuries (without priority symptoms) B-2 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 Building fire - persons reported C-2 Dyspnoea C-3 Burns >18% C-4 Significant facial burns D-1 Multiple Victims D-2 Unconscious or Arrest D-3 Non alert D-4 Difficulty speaking between breaths

Suffix E = Explosion F = Fire Present

8 - Carbon Monoxide/Inhalation/Hazchem Ω-1 Carbon monoxide detector alarm B-1 Alert without dysphnoea C-1 Alert with dysphnoea D-1 Unconscious or Arrest D-2 Not Alert D-3 Difficulty speaking between breaths D-4 Multiple victims D-5 Unknown status (3rd party call)

Suffix B=Biological C=Chemical G=Smell of gas M=CO N=Nuclear R=Radiological

		S=Suicide Attempt 

U=Unknown

9 - Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest/Death B-1 Obvious Death Unquestionable (a-g) D-1 Ineffective Breathing D-2 Obvious or Expected Death questionable E-1 Not breathing at all E-2 Breathing Uncertain (Agonal) E-3 Hanging E-4 Strangulation E-5 Suffocation E-6 Underwater Ω-1 Expected Death Unquestionable (x-y)

Suffix A = Cold and stiff in warm environment

		B = Decapitation
		C = Decomposition
		D = Incineration
		E = Non-recent death
		F = Severe injuries obviously incompatible with life
		G = Submersion (>6 Hrs)
		X = Terminal illness
		X = DNR order	

10 - Chest Pain A-1 Breathing normally <35 C-1 Abnormal breathing C-2 Cardiac History C-3 Cocaine C-4 Breathing Normally >35 D-1 Non alert D-2 Difficulty speaking between breaths D-3 Changing Colour D-4 Clammy

11 - Choking A-1 Not choking now D-1 Abnormal Breathing (Partial Obstruction) D-2 Not alert. E-1 Verified/Ineffective Breathing

Suffix C=Candy F=Food M=Milk/Liquid (Non toxic) O=Object U=Unknown

12 - Convulsions/ Fitting A-1 Not seizing now and breathing regularly (verified) B-1 Breathing regularly not verified <35 C-1 Pregnancy C-2 Diabetic C-3 Cardiac History D-1 Not breathing (after key questions) D-2 Continuous or Multiple Fitting D-3 Irregular Breathing D-4 Breathing Regularly Not Verified >35

Suffix E = Epilepsy

13 - Diabetic A-1 Alert C-1 Not Alert C-2 Abnormal Behaviour C-3 Abnormal Breathing D-1 Unconscious

14 - Drowning (near)/Diving/Scuba Accident A-1 Alert and breathing normally (NO injuries or in water) B-1 alert and breathing normally (injuries or in water) B-2 Unknown status (3rd party call) C-1 Alert with abnormal breathing D-1 Unconscious D-2 Not Alert D-3 Diving or Suspected Neck Injury D-4 Scuba Accident

15 - Electrocution/Lightning C-1 Alert and breathing normally D-1 Unconscious D-2 Not disconnected from the power D-3 Power not off - hazard present D-4 Long Fall >6ft D-5 Not Alert D-6 Abnormal Breathing D-7 Unknown status (3rd party call) E-1 Not Breathing/Ineffective breathing

16 - Eye Problems A-1 Moderate eye injuries A-2 Minor eye injuries/problems A-3 Medical eye Problem B-1 Severe eye injuries D-1 Not Alert

17 - Falls/Back Injuries (Traumatic) A-1 Not dangerous injuries A-2 Not recent injuries (>6hrs) B-1 Possibly Dangerous Body Area B-2 Serious Haemorrhage B-3 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Dangerous injuries D-2 Long fall >6ft D-3 Non alert D-4 Abnormal breathing

18 - Headache A-1 Normal breathing B-1 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 Not Alert C-2 Abnormal Breathing C-3 Speech problems C-4 Sudden on set of pain < 3hrs C-5 Numbness or paralysis C-6 Change in Behaviour <3hrs

19 - Heart Problems/A.I.C.D. A-1 Heart rate >5- and <13- (without priority symptoms) A-2 Chest Pain >35 B-1 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 Firing of AICD C-2 Abnormal breathing C-3 Chest Pains >35 C-4 Cardiac history

2- - Heat / Cold Exposure A-1 Alert (without priority symptoms) B-1 Change in skin colour B-2 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 Cardiac history D-1 Not Alert

21 - Haemorrhage/Lacerations A-1 Not dangerous haemorrhage A-2 Minor haemorrhage B-1 Possibly Dangerous Haemorrhage B-2 Serious Haemorrhage B-3 Bleeding disorders or thinners C-1 Haemorrhage Through Tubes D-1 Dangerous haemorrhage D-2 Non alert D-3 Abnormal Breathing

22 - Industrial / Machinery Accidents B-1 Unknown Situation (not caught in machinery) D-1 Life Status Questionable D-2 caught in machinery (Unknown Status) D-3 Multiple Victims

23 - Overdose / Poisoning (Ingestion) B-1 Overdose (without any priority Symptom) C-1 Violent (police must secure) C-2 Not Alert C-3 Abnormal Breathing C-4 Antidepressants C-5 Cocaine (or derivative) C-6 Narcotics (heroin) C-7 Acid or Alkali (lye) C-8 Unknown status (3rd party call) C-9 Poison control request response D-1 Unconscious D-2 Severe respiratory distress

Suffix A = Accidental I = Intentional P = Poisoning

24 - Pregnancy / Childbirth / Miscarriage A-1 1st trimester haemorrhage or miscarriage B-1 Labour (delivery not imminent > 5 months / 2- weeks) B-2 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 2nd Trimester haemorrhage or miscarriage C-2 1st trimester serious haemorrhage D-1 Breech or Cord D-2 Head Visible / out D-3 Imminent Delivery (>5 months / 2- weeks) D-4 3rd trimester haemorrhage D-5 High Risk Complications D-6 Baby Born

25 - Psychiatric / Suicide attempt A-1 Non-violent and non-suicidal B-1 Violent (police must secure) B-2 Threatening Suicide B-3 Nr Hanging, strangulation or suffocation (alert) B-4 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Not Alert

26 - Sick Person (Specific Diagnosis) A-1 No priority symptoms A-2 Boils A-3 Bumps (non traumatic) A-4 Can't sleep A-5 Can't urinate A-6 Catheter (in/out without bleeding) A-7 Constipation A-8 Cramps / spasms (in extremities) A-9 Cut off ring request A-10 Deafness A-11 Defecation A-12 Earache A-13 Enema A-14 Gout A-15 Haemorrhoids / piles A-16 Hepatitis A-17 Hiccups A-18 Hungry A-19 Nervous A-20 Object stuck (nose, ear, vagina, rectum, penis) A-21 Object swallowed (without choking or difficulty in breathing can talk) A-22 Penis problem/pain A-23 Rash / skin disorder A-24 Sore throat A-25 Toothache A-26 Transportation only A-27 Venereal Disease A-28 Wound infected (focal or surface) B-1 Unknown status (3rd party caller) C-1 Cardiac history D-1 Not Alert

27 - Stab / Gunshot / Penetrating Trauma A-1 Non-recent single peripheral wound (>6hrs) B-1 non-recent (>6hrs) single central wound B-2 Known single peripheral wound B-3 Serious Haemorrhage B-4 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Unconscious or Arrest D-2 Not Alert D-3 Central wounds D-4 Multiple wounds D-5 Multiple Victims

Suffix G = Gunshot P = Penetrating trauma S = Stabbing

28 - Stroke (CVA) A-1 Breathing Normally <35 B-1 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) C-1 Not Alert C-2 Abnormal Breathing C-3 Speech or movement problems C-4 Numbness or Tingling C-5 Stroke History C-6 Breathing normally >35

29 - Traffic / Transportation Accidents A-1 1st party caller with injury to Not dangerous body area B-1 Injuries B-2 Multiple Victims (one unit) B-3 Multiple Victims (additional units) B-4 Serious Haemorrhage B-5 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Major Incident A = Aircraft B = Bus C = Subway / Metro D = Train E = Watercraft D-2 High Mechanism A = All terrain B = Vehicle vs bicycle/motorcycle C = Vehicle vs Pedestrian D = Ejection E = Personal Watercraft F = Rollovers G = Vehicle off bridge/height D-3 HAZMAT D-4 Pinned (trapped) victim D-5 Not Alert

30 - Traumatic Injuries (Specific) A-1 Not dangerous injuries A-2 Non-recent injuries (>6hrs) B-1 Possibly dangerous body area B-2 serious haemorrhage D-1 Dangerous body area D-2 Not Alert D-3 Abnormal Breathing

31 - Unconscious / Passing Out (Non-Traumatic) A-1 Single or near faint and alert <35 C-1 Alert with Abnormal Breathing C-2 Cardiac History C-3 Multiple fainting episodes C-4 single or near fainting episode and alert >35 C-5 Females 12-5- with abdominal pain D-1 Unconscious (at end of interrogation) D-2 Severe respiratory distress D-3 Non alert E-1 Ineffective breathing (early despatch)

32 - Unknown Problem (Man Down) B-1 Standing, sitting, moving or talking B-2 Medical Alert notifications B-3 Unknown Status (3rd party caller) D-1 Life status questionable

33 - Transfer A = P3 (PRIORTY 3 RESPONCE) B = P2 (PRIORTY 2 RESPONCE)

_-1 Abdominal Pains/Problems _-2 Allergies/Hives/Red Reaction/Stings _-3 Animal Bite _-4 Assault/Rape _-5 Back Pain _-6 Breathing Problems _-7 Burns/Explosion _-8 Carbon Monoxide/Inhalation/HazMat _-9 Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest _10 Chest pain _11 Choking _12 Convulsions/Seizures _13 Diabetic Problems _14 Drowning (near) / Diving Accident _15 Electrocution _16 Eye problems / injuries _17 Falls / Back injuries (traumatic) _18 Headache _19 Heart Problems _20 Heat / cold exposure _21 Hemorrhage / lacerations _22 Industrial / machinery accidents _23 Overdose / ingestion / poisoning _24 Pregnancy / childbirth / miscarriage _25 Psychiatric emergency/suicide attempt _26 Sick person (specific diagnosis) _27 Stab / gunshot wound _28 Stroke (CVA) _29 Traffic accidents _30 Traumatic injuries-specific _31 Unconscious / fainting (non-traumatic) C-1 Abnormal Breathing C-2 Significant Haemorrhage or Shock C-3 Heart problems (including acute infarct) C-4 Acute Severe Pain D-1 Unconscious E-1 Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest