EMS - FIRE B-170 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11-04-91 REVISED: 12-25-94,06-04-95,09-01-99,03-01-21
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: Central California Emergency Medical Services Administrative Policies
and Procedures, #405; Fresno Fire Prevention Manual, section 403.002.
and Fresno County Administrative Officer's Management Directives,
Section 110.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a consistent method for requesting
emergency medical and fire department responses to the Fresno County Detention
Facilities.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that all emergencies shall
be handled in the most expeditious manner consistent with security and safety.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that all requests for
emergency medical services (EMS) and/or fire department response shall be directed to
the respective facility Central Control, who will then contact the appropriate dispatching
center.
PROCEDURES:
I. FIRST RESPONDERS
Correctional Officers are responsible for the safety and security of inmates,
employees, and the facility. These responsibilities extend to responding to
calls for help (including life-saving assistance) and to fires. Correctional
Officers respond to emergencies as first responders-they determine what type
of specialized emergency response is needed, then assist with handling the
problem while the appropriate specialized response teams are called to the
scene (e.g., Medical Health Services, EMS, Fresno Fire Department, SERT,
Maintenance personnel, etc.).
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
II. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
A. Most injuries and illnesses that occur within the confines of the Jail
facilities can be treated and evaluated by on-duty medical staff (e.g.,
seizures, broken fingers or toes, injuries sustained by fighting, etc.).
Medical staff is promptly notified whenever an inmate is in need of urgent
medical care.
B. Obvious, life-threatening medical emergencies that pose an immediate
threat to a person's long-term health or life require immediate intervention
and transport to a hospital for life-saving treatment. Serious medical
emergencies which would dictate that an ambulance be called, include,
but are not limited to-
1. Unconsciousness
2. No breathing or difficulty breathing (struggling for breath or breathing
in a strange way)
3. No pulse
4. Severe bleeding
5. Severe chest pains or complaints associated with a heart attack
(chest pain with or without nausea/vomiting; sweating; shortness of
breath; pain or discomfort from chest to jaw or down either or both
arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach).
6. Inmate displays warning signs associated with a stroke (one side of
the face droops or is numb; one arm is weak or numb; speech slurred
or difficult to understand).
7. Shock(which often accompanies severe injury or illness. Symptoms
include low blood pressure; rapid, shallow breathing; cold, clammy
skin; rapid, weak pulse; dizziness fainting or weakness).
8. Other emergencies, as determined and requested by a Medical
Health Services employee.
III. REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
A. When an officer encounters an individual who requires emergency life-
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
saving medical attention, the officer shall-
1. Immediately notify the respective facility Central Control (via radio),
declare a "Code Blue" (i.e., medical emergency) and request an
ambulance to respond. Indicate the type of medical emergency and
location.
2. Secure the scene.
3. Initiate First Aid/CPR and continue until assistance arrives.
B. After receiving an emergency call, the Central Control Officer shall-
1. Notify Medical staff in the facility by announcing "Code Blue"
followed by the location of the incident via the "All Page" system.
Staff should be aware that visitors and inmates will also hear the
transmission.
2. Activate a Code 33 (i.e., emergency - clear the radio channel).
3. Call 600-7800 and request an ambulance. Relay the following:
a. Address and access/entry point. (See Addendum A.)
b. The individual's symptoms and condition. Include age and
weight, if known.
c. Appropriate response code. (Note that the law enforcement
response codes and the EMS priority levels are in inverse order
of each other.)
Law Enforcement Codes EMS— Priority Levels
Priority 3—non-lights/siren urgent response for
Code 1 (not utilized) a presumed NON-life-threatening, but urgent
condition.
Code 2 Priority 2—lights and siren immediate response
Urgent. No lights or siren. for a presumed EMERGENCY condition.
Potentially life-threatening.
Priority 1—lights and siren immediate response
Code 3 for a presumed LIFE-THREATENING condition
Emergency. Lights and siren. (such as cardiac arrest, airway problem, or
Immediately life-threatening. serious compromise of the respiratory or
cardiovascular systems, including shock).
4. Notify Main Jail Central Control and advise them of the situation.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
5. Notify the Facility Sergeant.
6. Notify the Lobby Officer or other appropriate personnel of pending
ambulance arrival and the location of the medical emergency.
7. Maintain an accurate record of all notifications and times of requests
for medical assistance, including arrival times and departures.
C. Main Jail Central Control will be responsible to notify the following and
advise them of the situation and location:
1. Medical staff.
a. Notify Medical staff in the Main Jail by announcing "Code Blue"
followed by the location of the incident via the "All Page" system.
(Staff should be aware that visitors and inmates will also hear the
transmission.)
b. The page shall be followed by a telephone call to the on-duty
Charge Nurse, providing details about the type of medical
emergency so that Medical staff can respond with the appropriate
supplies.
2. The Facility and Administrative Sergeants. If unable to immediately
contact a Sergeant, the Watch Commander shall be notified.
D. The Facility Sergeant shall be responsible to ensure access and security
for EMS personnel.
1. If Lobby doors are locked, the Sergeant shall ensure that someone is
sent to open the doors and direct EMS and support staff to the
emergency. If the ambulance will be entering the Booking sallyport,
Main Jail Booking needs to be notified.
2. EMS personnel shall be accompanied by an officer at all times and
shall only enter areas that have been secured.
E. The Administrative Sergeant shall be responsible to:
1. Coordinate appropriate transportation personnel.
2. Notify the Watch Commander that EMS has been called and apprise
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
them of the status of the situation as soon as possible.
3. Notify the United States Marshal's Service if the medical emergency
involves a federal inmate.
F. The Watch Commander will be responsible to notify the Jail Operations
Bureau Commander or in his/her absence the Medical &Services Bureau
Commander. Depending on the circumstances, additional notifications
may include the SERT Commander, Patrol Watch Commander,(and the
Peer Support Coordinator, as applicable.
IV. INMATE TRANSPORTATION
A. Whenever possible, the inmate should be brought out of the cell/pod to an
infirmary area. This may not always be possible if an inmate cannot be
moved because of the nature and/or severity of the illness or injury.
B. Non-ambulatory inmates and those with an unstable condition will be
transported by ambulance with an officer in attendance.
C. All inmates (with the exception of pregnant inmates) are handcuffed and
shackled during transportation. Exceptions may be made for inmates
with obvious life-threatening emergencies and serious injuries to their
extremities. Minimally(if possible), the inmate should be shackled. [Refer
to policy and procedure section D-235/Use of Restraints During Inmate Transportation (FILE:
RESTRAINTS DURING TRANSPORT).]
D. The transport of an inmate via Code 3 ambulance shall not be
unnecessarily delayed unless the safety of staff, inmates, or the general
public is compromised.
V. FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS
A. If an officer notices smoke or fire, they shall perform the following actions:
1. Sound an alarm (pull the handle down on a fire alarm pull station).
[See also policy B-160/Panic, Smoke, and Fire Alarm Response(FILE: ALARMS).]
2. Notify the respective facility Central Control.
3. If fire is easily extinguishable, all attempts shall be made to put it out
by using the portable fire extinguishers.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
4. All nonessential personnel and visitors on the affected floor should be
directed to leave the floor immediately.
5. If necessary, extinguish or suppress fire in the area of an evacuation
route.
[Refer also to policy B-175/Fire Suppression Preplanning(FILE; FIRE SUPPRESSION)for
information on fire extinguishers, location of emergency fire equipment,and general rules
and guidelines during fire emergencies.]
B. Central Control shall be responsible to:
1. Notify the Fresno Fire Department (911) and provide the following
information:
a. Name and address of the facility where the Fire Department is to
respond. (Refer to Addendum A.)
b. Specific location of the fire (e.g., housing floor and pod, laundry,
clothing room, etc.).
c. Type of fire and if a medical emergency exists, if known.
d. Location of entry.
2. Notify Main Jail Central Control of the nature and location of the fire.
3. Ensure that the Facility Sergeant is aware/notified.
4. Notify the Lobby Officer (or other appropriate personnel) of pending
Fire Department arrival and the location of the fire.
5. Direct responding staff, the Fire Department, and/or any other
support services. If a smoke detector that is connected to the
elevator has been activated, the elevator will automatically return and
remain at the ground floor level for the use of the Fire Department
and/or Central Control. No one other than Fire Department personnel
should use the elevators.
6. Maintain an accurate record of all notifications and times of requests
for Fire Department and medical assistance, including arrival times
and departures.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTS AND RESPONSES NO: B-170
FILE: EMS-FIRE
C. The Facility Sergeant shall be responsible to ensure access and security
for the firefighters.
1. The Sergeant will designate appropriate staff to respond and meet
emergency personnel.
2. If emergency doors need to be manually unlocked (for access or
evacuation), the Sergeant shall ensure that the emergency keys are
obtained from the Patrol Watch Commander.
D. Main Jail Central Control shall notify the Administrative Sergeant that the
Fire Department has been called. The Administrative Sergeant shall then
notify the Watch Commander of the request and status of the situation as
soon as possible.
VI. EVACUATION
A. Only persons on floors directed to evacuate, or those in personal danger,
should evacuate. Unnecessary evacuation could crowd corridors and
stairs, thus preventing emergency crews from reaching the site of
emergency.
B. All officers should prepare to evacuate and be ready, should evacuation
be ordered. Follow the established policies and procedures for each floor
and/or as instructed by the Incident Commander.
[Refer to policy B-180/Evacuation Planning (FILE: EVACUATE).]
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