CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
ALTERNATE DUTY SUPERVISOR POLICY

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to provide designation and operational guidelines for an alternate to the on duty field supervisor.

APPLICABILITY:

This policy shall apply to all certified members of the Department of Emergency Medical Services.

POLICY STATEMENT:

The availability of a city-wide field supervisor is essential to effective EMS operations. While the EMS-5 duty supervisor program is effective, there needs to be provisions for alternate control when EMS-5 is committed on extended incidents. This supporting position will be designated EMS-10.

In the event of an extended incident such as a large fire, fatality entrapment, search, etc., EMS-5 cannot be expected to properly act in a command role and still supervise other ongoing operations. The EMS-10 position is intended to provide a temporary support role until EMS-5 becomes available.

Any active member of the EMS-5 team or those of a rank of Squad Commander or above are qualified to assume this position.  Anyone of the rank of Squad Commander wishing to man EMS-10 must have completed two EMS-5 duties under supervision.  After each of these duties, an EMS-5 Candidate Field Evaluation Form must be completed and forwarded to the EMS Administration Office with copies to the Special Operations Brigade Chief and Special Operations Captain.

In order to establish EMS-10, a member must be positioned in a DEMS vehicle. No unit will be unmanned to support this. The member will contact communications over the air and advise the following:

1. "Dispatcher, show EMS-10 manned with (unit/name) on-board. I will be assuming the role of EMS supervisor until EMS-5 becomes available."
2. EMS-10 should advise EMS-5 that he is maimed when ft can be done so without interrupting ongoing operations.  The Duty Administrator should always be notified [deprecated].  EMS-10 should obtain a status of manned units as soon as possible via the most practical means. Phone contact is the recommended approach.
3. The alternate supervisor will not supersede any Brigade Commander or Administrator handling field operations. He/she should consult with them to determine if EMS-10 needs to be manned.
4. Members responding to man the EMS-10 position will not sign on until they are in an EMS vehicle with access to both a main and a portable radio. They should also base their response on the ongoing call demand. If a need for ambulances or zone cars exists, then those units must be manned first. For example, EMS-10 should not occupy the Zone 2 car when additional ALS is requested for a major Bay Bridge Tunnel call.
5. EMS-10 is not a standing position. Members will not operate vehicles or use the designation unless in an active supervisory status. He/she will unman once EMS-5 is ready to resume normal operations. EMS-10 will never be manned when EMS-5 is unmanned.

This policy shall become effective upon the approval of the Director of Emergency Medical Services.

APPROVED:

Bruce Edwards  3-2-99

Director of EMS (Date)

Originated:

01/01/96
05/06/98
09/30/98
03/02/99

95101801.POL