EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System ReviewBecause data was not available statewide, a comprehensive assessment of EMS responsetimes was not possible. Instead, the analysis of this sample dataset serves two primary purposes:7. To allow for a basic comparison of response times between career and volunteerproviders;8. To provide an example of the type of data collection and analysis that should beperformed throughout the State to assess response performance.In general, response time is the total elapsed time between an individual calling 911 andemergency service personnel arriving at the scene. Response time can be broken down intomultiple segments for analysis (call processing, dispatch, turnout, and travel time). The sampledataset used here included response time stamps beginning at time of unit assignment. Therefore,the call processing and dispatch time segments were not available for analysis. Rather, thisanalysis focuses and turnout and travel times, which apply directly to the response performanceof the EMS personnel.Turnout – Turnout is the time segment that begins when the alarm is received byoperations personnel and extends until the apparatus begins driving to the incident scene.National standards for career departments, such as NFPA 1710, suggest a turnout time of oneminute for career providers.Turnout times for the New Jersey sample data are shown in Table 3. 90 th percentileturnout times for career agencies are well below those of volunteer providers, although averageresponse times are similar for both types of providers. This is indicative of the smaller sample ofvolunteer responses as well as larger dispersion in volunteer turnout times. Furthermore,volunteer agencies generally have longer turnout times because responding personnel may not belocated at a station.Table 3: Turnout Times for Career and Volunteer Providers (One Sample Area)CareerVolunteerResponse Count * 47,873 4,271Mean 1:24 1:4590th Percentile 2:41 4:43* Response count includes records with valid timestamps only.TriData, a Division of 92September 2007System Planning Corporation