Hamilton Paramedic Service

City of Hamilton
Community and Emergency Services Department
City Hall, 71 Main Street West
Physical Address: 1227 Stone Church Road East, Hamilton, ON L8W 2C6
Hamilton, Ontario
Phone: 905.546.2424 Ext. 7741 Fax: 905.546.3344
Canada L8P 4Y5
Email: Michael.Sanderson@hamilton.ca
www.hamilton.ca

Hamilton

December 14, 2015

Liz Campbell
Manager
Hamilton Central Ambulance Communications Centre
661 Upper James
PO Box 60527
Hamilton, ON L9C 7N7

Dear Ms. Campbell:

Subject: Tiered Response Agreement

The purpose of this letter is to provide your office written direction with respect to the
notification of the Hamilton Fire Department of incidents requiring their response and
assistance.

As previously communicated to your office, the City of Hamilton Fire tiered response
agreement is a City of Hamilton policy, mutually determined by Hamilton Fire
Department and ourselves. As we are both part of the same City, and the agreement is
internally managed within the City, there is not a requirement for a "signed off tiered
response agreement".

A copy of this policy, last revised December 2014, is appended for your information
purposes. We will ensure that your office is advised of any updates or changes.

Respectfully,
/)

Iÿ j- ,.

Robert (Rob) Simonds lichael Sanderson

Chief, Hamilton Fire Department Chief, Hamilton Paramedic Service

Attachment (1)
Subject: Hamilton Paramedic Service (HPS) - Notify Fire Department Assistance

Approval Authority: Chief, Hamilton Paramedic Service

Effective Date: May 1, 2006 Last Review Date: December 16, 2014

Section: CACC and Deployment Policy No: 10 - 04

POLICY

SECTION 4.0 PROCESSING 9-I-I/PUBLIC ACCESS CALLS

PRACTICE L4.6 Hamilton Paramedic Service (HPS) - Notify Fire Department
Assistance

MOP Reference:

Practice:

L4.6 Hamilton Paramedic Service (HPS) - Notify Fire Department Assistance

Fire is to be tiered to all Code 4 Calls in the City of Hamilton that meet the following criteria:

1) Absence of Breathing / Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest

2) Unconscious / Unresponsive / Seizure

3) Choking / Sudden Shortness of Breath (onset within the last 48 hours)
4) Other Trauma
a) Penetrating Trauma (i.e. gunshot or stabbing)
b) Pedestrian Struck / Cyclist Struck (motorcycle, bicycle, etc.)
c) MVCs on all rural roads and highways
d) Multiple Victim Incidents (including MVCs with suspected or confirmed multiple
victims)
e) Falls > 10 feet
5) Chest Pain
6) Burns / Electrocution
7) Calls where the CACC Ambulance Communications Officer estimates the interval
from the time the HPS unit is dispatched until the time it will arrive on scene will
exceed 15 minutes.

Exceptions:
Do not tier Fire to the following locations in the City of Hamilton:
i. US Steel (unless requested; send only to the Wilcox Street entrance)
ii. ArcelorMittal Dofasco (unless requested)
iii. St. Joseph Community Health Centre (unless Centre is closed)
iv. Main St. West Urgent Care Centre (unless Centre is closed)

Additional Requirements:
+ In compliance with and further to sections Sl 1.10 and Sl 1.12 of the Manual of
Practice (Emergency Health Services Branch), Fire shall be notified immediately,
for every incident in any part of the City of Hamilton, whenever there is any
indication that there may be Hazardous Materials involved (including chemicals*,
 spills of gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, etc.), Victim Trapped, Fire, Structural
Hazards, Any Rescue, and as requested.
* if chemical is known antineoplastic/chemotherapy drugs, Fire will be tiered at the
request of the responding crew.
+ Police are to be notified immediately for all potential/confirmed VSA patients.