Table 1 Priority definitions and suggested responses in the Finnish EMS system
From: Medical priority dispatch codes—comparison with National Early Warning Score
Priority code | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Definitions | Serious disturbance of vital functions | Suspicion of failure of vital functions | Minor symptoms | No disturbance of vital functions |
High-energy mechanism of injury | Mechanism of injury is suspected to lead on failure of vital functions | Low-energy mechanism of injury | ||
Dispatch priority | Immediately | Immediately | Patient reached within 30 min | Patient reached within 120 min |
EMS unit response | FRU + ALS + (HEMS) | ALS (+ FRU if quicker on scene) | BLS or ALS | BLS |
Lights and sirens | Lights and sirens | Normal driving | Normal driving |