Toronto Fire Services Non-Emergency Responses PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSES Date Issued: May 1, 2024 Rescinds: February 7, 2024 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-NOER PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for non- emergency responses. RESPONSIBILITY All TFS p...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSES Date Issued: May 1, 2024 Rescinds: February 7, 2024 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-NOER PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for non- emergency responses. RESPONSIBILITY All TFS personnel are responsible for following this guideline regarding non-emergency responses. Company Officers shall ensure that apparatus drivers are responding in non-emergency mode and in compliance with the Highway Traffic Act. District Chiefs are responsible for ensuring this guideline is followed. TFS Communications Centre dispatchers are responsible for ensuring responding crews are notified the response is in non-emergency mode. GUIDELINES 1. General When dispatched to a non-emergency event, TFS crews shall not use lights/sirens, and shall respond to the event in compliance with the Highway Traffic Act. Response to a non-emergency event shall not delay the crew from leaving the station. TFS crews shall proceed to the non-emergency event without delay. TFS Communications Centre dispatchers shall verbally indicate that the response is non-emergency at the time of dispatch. E.g. “Pumper 134, respond to a non-emergency medical assist for an access problem, number two-three-zero-zero Yonge Street, respond on North TAC 1, Acknowledge.” TFS Communications Centre dispatchers are authorized to redirect TFS apparatus responding to a non-emergency event to an emergency event following normal TFS dispatch protocols. File Code: G-NOER Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 2. Non-Emergency Event Types Carbon Monoxide Event (CONMNE – Carbon Monoxide Non-Medical Non- Emergency) (a) A non-emergency response to the report of carbon monoxide with no medical symptoms. (b) The caller, including occupants and pets, must be able to leave the residence to wait outside. Everyone residing at that residence must be accounted for outside, including all occupants and pets. The caller will be advised to leave the windows and doors closed to allow accurate carbon monoxide readings to be measured when TFS crews arrive. Medical Assist Event (MEANE – Medical Assist – Non-Emergency) (a) A response initiated by a request from paramedics on scene or through TEMS Communications where no medical emergency has been reported, but TFS is required for a lift assist, or an access problem. (b) All requests for lift assists from TEMS will be reported to the TFS Communications Centre verbally, by telephone. Responses for lift assists will only be dispatched under the following circumstances: i. Non-life threatening situations ii. Patient of significant weight iii. Request for assistance when TEMS resources are not available, and they have advised that there will be a lengthy delay in assisting the patient. NOTE: If Paramedic Services have not assigned a unit to an incident, due to the incident being deemed low priority, TFS Communications Centre shall dispatch this event as a non-emergency response. When Paramedic Services CANCEL an event, TFS is no longer required and shall not respond. Check Call (CCNE – Check Call – Non-Emergency) (a) A non-emergency response for the report of a lock-out / lock-in, where TEMS Communications has confirmed that there are no known life threatening or psychological conditions, or where little detail is provided (i.e., District Chief responding to a report of overcrowding or a fire hazard). Vehicle Spill Clean-Up (VESCNE – Vehicle – Spill Clean-Up-Non-Emergency) (a) A non-emergency response to clean up a spill where another public safety agency is on scene, the spilled material/liquid has been identified, and there is no hazard or environmental impact. File Code: G-NOER Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE NOTE: The following event types are STILL dispatched as emergency responses: VESC – Vehicle – Spill Clean-Up This event type is used when a vehicle is leaking fluids and has not been involved in an accident. VESCH – Vehicle – Spill Clean-Up – Highway This event type is used when a vehicle is leaking fluids on a highway, usually when there is no accident involved. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS G-EMRS – Emergency Medical Responses File Code: G-NOER Page 3 of 3