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.
United States 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:
Code 1: Respond to the call without lights and sirens. Code 2: Respond to the call with lights only (permissibility varies by jurisdiction). Code 3: Respond to the call using lights and sirens.
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 "upgrade" to a Code 3 response, or be directed to do so. "Downgrade" may be used in the opposite situation; for example, if police are responding Code 2 to assist at a fire, but the fire department manages to get the scene under control, the responding police units may be asked to "downgrade" to Code 1. "Increase code" and "decrease code" are used interchangeably, usually by units themselves instead of dispatchers.
Multiple analyses link Code 3 operations with crashes involving responders. Accurate use of protocols establishing the priority of various cases is critical. The standard for emergency dispatcher training is becoming very high.
Some emergency medical services use "Priority" to establish the urgency of a given request for service instead of "Code", based on the status of the patient, the resources necessary, and the severity of the incident.
Priority 1: Life-threatening emergency Priority 2: Non-life-threatening emergency Priority 3: Routine unscheduled call Priority 4: Routine scheduled call
National Shift to “plain language” 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. NIMS also strongly encourages the use of plain language for internal use within a single agency.NIMS Integration Center. "NIMS AND USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE". (2006). Accessed October 30, 2008.
Plain language avoids confusion resulting from varying meanings assigned to different codes. Historically 10-codes and signal codes were used when radios were less reliable and frequent repetition was required. These codes were rarely uniform even between local agencies. Most used "10-4" to mean "acknowledged", for example, but some agencies used it as "message ends". A "Signal 30" could be a fatal car crash or any death, depending on local usage.
United Kingdom
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 the list is not exhaustive.
Police
GradeMeaningAudible and visible emergency equipmentTarget timeAImmediate response call Use advisable8 minutesBSignificant call, routine call Can be used if driver thinks police are needed immediately20 minutesCextended call, Scheduled appointmentsNot to be usedNo time limitDNon-attendanceNot to be usedNon-attendanceResolvedNon-attendanceNot to be usedCall is resolved at point of contact.
Another variant in use within the UK.
GradeMeaningAudible and visible emergency equipmentIMImmediate PriorityNormally 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.HHigh PriorityNormally used - incidents graded high are of serious nature and have the potential to develop into immediate priority incidentsNNormal PriorityNot used - incidents are graded as normal that do not depend upon a timely police response.LLow PriorityNot used - incidents graded as low that do not depend upon a timely police response and may be resolved by phone or pre-arranged appointment.NANon-attendanceNot used, no police attendance required.
A numerical grading system is used in some forces.
Grade (Status)MeaningAudible and visible emergency equipmentState 0Officer in dangerAll available officers on radio frequencies respond.State 1Emergency responseRoad traffic exemptions usually utilised as is audible and visual warning equipment. State 2Urgent responseRoad traffic exemptions may be utilised along with audible and visual warning equipment.State 3Non-urgent responseAudible and visual warning equipment is not used. State 4AppointmentsAudible and visual warning equipment is not used. State 5For information only Calls not usually requiring police attendance that may be logged for information only. State 6On SceneOfficer On Scene of incident. Update information when necessary.
Ambulance
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.
GradeMeaningAudible and visible emergency equipmentType of callInitial response targetResponse detailsCategory 1Immediate Life ThreatAlways usedCardiac arrests, Choking, Unconscious, Continuous seizure, Not alert after a fall or trauma, Allergic reaction with breathing problems, Major Incidents7 minResponse time measured with arrival of first emergency responder
Will be attended by single responders and ambulance crewsCategory 2EmergencyAlways usedStroke patients, Fainting – not alert, Chest pain, Road Traffic Collisions, Major burns, Sepsis 18 minResponse time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle Category 3UrgentUsually used (service policy dependent)Falls, Fainting – now alert, Diabetic problems, Isolated limb fractures, Abdominal pain120 minResponse time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle Category 4Less UrgentNot usually usedDiarrhea, Vomiting, Non-traumatic back pain, Health Care Professional admission180 minMaybe managed through hear and treat
Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicleGP UrgentUrgent responseNot usually usedGP urgent admissions to hospital. Urgent interhospital transfers1–4 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.
Australia
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 Authority There 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).
New South Wales
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:
Proceed: To drive to an incident, without displaying lights and/or sirens and to obey all road rules. Respond: To drive to an incident, urgently but safely, whilst displaying lights and/or sirens. Drivers are exempt from the road traffic act with some conditions,NSW Road Rules 2014 Section 306 however both organisations have policies imposing further restrictions. The siren can be switched off at the discretion of the driver when it is not needed (for example, when the road ahead is clear of traffic and easily visible) and reactivated at possible traffic hazards.
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.
Code Red: Vehicle responding with lights and sirens activated. Code Blue: Vehicle responding without lights or sirens activated.
New South Wales Ambulance use 2 priorities similar to both SES and RFS. R1: Lights and Sirens Response R2: Normal Road Conditions
South Australia SA Ambulance Service use a Priority system. Priority Case Type Lights & Sirens Used Crew Type Response Time KPI 1 Emergency Yes Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) 8 minutes 2 Emergency Yes Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) 16 minutes 3 Urgent No Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) 30 minutes 4 Urgent No Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) 60 minutes 5 Urgent No Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) 60 minutes 6 Routine No Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) NA 7 Routine No Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) NA 8 Routine No Patient Transport Service (Ambulance Officer) NA Note: Priority 0 has been reserved for future use. Priority 9 is used for administration taskings and non-patient related vehicle movements.
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, Country Fire Service and South Australian State Emergency Service use a Priority System which has been recently updated.