Emergency service response codes are predefined systems used by emergency services to describe the priority and response assigned to calls for service. Response codes vary from country to country, jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and even agency to agency, with different methods used to categorize responses to reported events.
In the United States, response codes are used to describe a mode of response for an emergency unit responding to a call. They generally vary but often have three basic tiers:
The term "Code 4" is also occasionally considered a response code, though it generally only means "call has been handled or resolved, no further units respond".
Certain agencies may add or remove certain codes. For example, in the Los Angeles Police Department's radio procedures, Code 1 is not a response code, and its meaning is transferred to Code 2, the original meaning of which is transferred to the semi-official response code "Code 2-High". Additionally, some agencies use "Code 99" which means for all units to respond, typically used in bomb threats, active shooters, hostage situations, and other high-level situations.
Some agencies may use the terms "upgrade" and "downgrade" to denote an increase or decrease in priority. For example, if a police unit is conducting a Code 1 response to an argument, and the dispatcher reports that the argument has escalated to a fight, the unit may report an "upgrade" to a Code 3 response. The term downgrade may be used in the opposite situation.
A similar variation, generally used by units instead of dispatchers, is to "increase code" and "reduce code". For example, if multiple units are responding Code 3 to a call, but the units already at the scene have mostly resolved the situation, the scene units may request that the responding units "reduce code". In this example, to "reduce code" would mean to continue responding, but at Code 2 or Code 1, rather than discontinue altogether.
Some emergency medical services use "Priority" instead:
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) states "it is required that plain language be used for multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises", and federal grants became contingent on this beginning fiscal year 2006.[1] NIMS also strongly encourages the use of plain language for internal use within a single agency.
The use of lights and sirens is up to the individual police officer driving to the call. The nature of the call is an aggravating factor when deciding when to use them. Calls are graded by either the control room direct (in the case of emergency calls) or by some sort of first contact centre (nonemergency calls). Grading is affected by such factors as the use or threat of violence at the incident being reported. Even though the grading is done by the control room, officers can request an incident be upgraded if they feel in their judgement they are needed immediately. They can also request to downgrade an incident if they feel they cannot justify using emergency equipment like blue lights and sirens.
There is no nationally agreed call grading system with a number of different systems being used across the UK and attendance times given the grade varies between forces, depending on how rural the county is. For example, Suffolk Constabulary break down Grade A emergencies into further sub-categories of Grade A Urban and Rural, with Urban attendance times attracting a 15-minute arrival time and Grade A Rural attendance would attract a 20-minute arrival time. Some of these are listed below but is not exhaustive.[2]
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | Target time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Immediate response call | Use advisable | 8 minutes | ||
| B | Significant call, routine call | Can be used if driver thinks police are needed immediately | 20 minutes | ||
| C | extended call, Scheduled appointments | Not to be used | No time limit | ||
| D | Non-attendance | Not to be used | Non-attendance | ||
| Resolved | Non-attendance | Not to be used | Call is resolved at point of contact. |
Another variant in use within the UK.
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IM | Immediate Priority | Normally used, examples of incidents graded as an immediate priority include incidents in which life is at risk, there is serious injury (or risk of), serious road traffic collisions, and where serious crime is in-progress or has just taken place. | |
| H | High Priority | Normally used - incidents graded high are of serious nature and have the potential to develop into immediate priority incidents | |
| N | Normal Priority | Not used - incidents are graded as normal that do not depend upon a timely police response. | |
| L | Low Priority | Not used - incidents graded as low that do not depend upon a timely police response and may be resolved by phone or pre-arranged appointment. | |
| NA | Non-attendance | Not used, no police attendance required. |
A numerical grading system is used in some forces.[3]
| Grade (Status) | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State 0 | Officer in danger | All available officers on radio frequencys respond. | |
| State 1 | Emergency response | Road traffic exemptions usually utilised as is audible and visual warning equipment. | |
| State 2 | Urgent response | Road traffic exemptions may be utilised along with audible and visual warning equipment. | |
| State 3 | Non-urgent response | Audible and visual warning equipment is not used. | |
| State 4 | Appointments | Audible and visual warning equipment is not used. | |
| State 5 | For information only | Calls not usually requiring police attendance that may be logged for information only. | |
| State 6 | On Scene | Officer On Scene of incident. Update information when necessary. |
Ambulance responses in the UK are as follows. Some ambulance services allow driver discretion for Category 3/4 calls; this may be dependent on the type of call or how long it has been waiting for a response for. 999 calls to the ambulance service are triaged using either the NHS Pathways system or the Medical Priority Dispatch System.
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | Type of call | Initial response target | Response details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Immediate Life Threat | Always used | Cardiac arrests, Choking?, Unconscious, Continuous seizure, Not alert after a fall or trauma, Allergic reaction with breathing problems, Major Incidents | 7 min | Response time measured with arrival of first emergency responder Will be attended by single responders and ambulance crews |
| Category 2 | Emergency | Always used | 18 min | Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle | |
| Category 3 | Urgent | Usually used (service policy dependent) | Falls, Fainting – now alert, Diabetic problems, Isolated limb fractures, Abdominal pain | 120 min | Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle |
| Category 4 | Less Urgent | Not usually used | Diarrhea, Vomiting, Non-traumatic back pain, Health Care Professional admission | 180 min | Maybe managed through hear and treat Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle |
| GP Urgent | Urgent response | Not usually used | GP urgent admissions to hospital. Urgent interhospital transfers | 1–4 hours or scheduled timeframe, decided by admitting HCP |
The use of flashing lights and sirens is colloquially known as blues and twos, which refers to the blue lights and the two-tone siren once commonplace (although most sirens now use a range of tones). In the UK, only blue lights are used to denote emergency vehicles (although other colours may be used as sidelights, stop indicators, etc.). A call requiring the use of lights and sirens is often colloquially known as a blue light run.
Code 1: A time critical case with a lights and sirens ambulance response. An example is a cardiac arrest or serious traffic accident.
Code 2: An acute but non-time critical response. The ambulance does not use lights and sirens to respond. An example of this response code is a broken leg.
Code 3: A non-urgent routine case. These include cases such as a person with ongoing back pain but no recent injury.
Additional codes are used for internal purposes.
Country Fire AuthorityThere are two types of response for the Country Fire Authority which cover the outer Melbourne Area. These are similar to those used by Ambulance Victoria, minus the use of Code 2.
Code 1: A time critical event with response requiring lights and siren. This usually is a known and going fire or a rescue incident.
Code 2: Unused within the Country Fire Authority
Code 3: Non-urgent event, such as a previously extinguished fire or community service cases (such as animal rescue or changing of smoke alarm batteries for the elderly).
Marine Rescue NSW
Code 1 Urgent Response - Use warning devices
Code 2 Semi Urgent Response - Use of Warning devices at skippers discretion
Code 3 Non Urgent Response - Warning Devices not needed
Code 4 Training - No Warning devices to be used unless specifically needed for training
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the New South Wales State Emergency Service use two levels of response, depending on what the call-out is and what has been directed of the crew attending the incident by orders of the duty officer:
The New South Wales Police Force uses two distinct classifications for responding to incidents. In order to respond 'code red' a driver must be suitably trained and have qualified in appropriate police driver training courses.[6]
New South Wales Ambulance use 2 priorities similar to both SES and RFS.
SA Ambulance Service use a Priority system.
| Priority | Case Type | Lights & Sirens Used | Crew Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency | Yes | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) | |
| 2 | Emergency | Yes | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) | |
| 4 | Urgent | No | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) | |
| 5 | Urgent | No | Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) | |
| 6 | Routine | No | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) | |
| 7 | Routine | No | Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) | |
| 8 | Routine | No | Patient Transport Service (Ambulance Officer) |
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, Country Fire Service and South Australian State Emergency Service use a Priority System which has been recently updated.
| Priority | Type | Local Event Triage | Lights & Sirens Used | Response | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency | Can't wait | Yes | Multiple Units Sent, Life-Threat | |
| 2 | Urgent | Can Wait | No | Single Unit Responded, Potential for Life-Threat | |
| 3 | Routine | Will Wait | No | Used Primarily by SES, No risk of Life Threat |
All calls are routed through the Metropolitan Fire Service (Call Sign "Adelaide Fire") including State Emergency Service 132 500 calls.
During significant weather events the State Communication Centre (SCC) unit of the SES take over call taking responsibly. This operations centre is manned by volunteers routing calls for assistance to the closest unit who will dispatch the events to individual teams.
Queensland Police uses the priority system:
For Queensland Police code 1 and code 2 are exactly the same response time. Rarely will a job be given a priority code 1, instead officers will (in most cases) be told to respond code 2.
St John Ambulance Northern Territory uses terms to determine the response:[7]
St John Ambulance Western Australia uses the following codes to determine a response:[8]
The Western Australian Police uses the following codes from 1 to 7 to determine response actions:
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have two response codes:[9]
BC EHS Clinical Response Model implemented as of May 30, 2018 by BC Emergency Health Services, updating how they assign paramedics, ambulance and other resources to 9-1-1 calls.[10]
| Colour | Patient Condition | Details | Additional Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | Immediately life threatening | Eg. Cardiac Arrest | Fire Immediately dispatched |
| Red | Immediately life threatening or time critical | Eg. Chest Pain | Fire Immediately dispatched |
| Orange | Urgent | Potentially serious, but not immediately life threatening (Eg. Abdominal Pain) | Fire may be dispatched |
| Yellow | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. (Eg. Sprained Ankle) | |
| Green | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. Possibly suitable for treatment at scene. NOT Being implemented immediately | |
| Blue | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. Further clinical telephone triage and advice Referrals to HealthLink BC (8-1-1 calls) | Patient will be called back. |