Image: Huron County ambulance.
Huron County’s Emergency Services will be switching its 9-1-1 dispatch system in the Fall.
Beginning October 14th, emergency medical dispatch for 9-1-1 calls in Huron County will transition to the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).
Under the system, residents calling 9-1-1 for paramedic assistance may be asked additional questions by emergency medical dispatchers to help assess the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate response.
“Callers may notice that dispatchers ask a few more questions. These questions help dispatchers assess the situation and make sure paramedics are available for the patients who need them most,” says Jeff Horseman, Chief of Huron County Paramedic Services.
A news release from the county says, “patients experiencing serious or life-threatening emergencies, such as strokes, heart attacks, severe allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, and major trauma, will continue to receive the highest priority.
For minor and non life-threatening medical needs, response times may vary when paramedic resources are responding to more urgent emergencies, officials say.