The Detroit Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division provides Detroit residents and visitors with compassionate and professional emergency care. The Detroit Fire Department responds to more than 150,000 emergency medical calls for service each year. 

With the implementation of the Detroit Fire Department personnel being cross trained, Detroit now has more than 1,100 licensed individuals providing care at the Medical First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic level, staffing more than sixty medically licensed Fire and EMS vehicles 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 
In addition to responding to 911 calls for emergency medical care, the EMS Division also provides medical oversight and command staffing for: major events, dignitary visits, disaster planning while overseeing day-to-day medical operations in the City of Detroit.  

Detroit’s EMS Division has played a key role in bringing Code 1 emergency response times down to 7 minutes and 30 seconds, which is below national standards.

Recognizing Emergencies

How do you tell the difference between a true emergency and a minor problem? Certain symptoms are so alarming, the need for emergency care and ambulance transport to the emergency room is obvious; but what should you do about more common illnesses and injuries?

Only a physician can diagnose medical problems, but you can protect your family's health by learning to recognize certain symptoms.

Symptoms of medical emergencies:

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians**, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Fainting
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
• Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing)
• Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
• Bleeding that won't stop
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings

Symptoms of common illnesses and injuries should result in a call to your doctor’s office. Following are best practices:

• Make a plan with your doctor in advance of an emergency.
• Discuss with your Doctor when you should you go straight to the emergency department versus waiting for an appointment.
• Discuss with family what you should you do when the doctor's office is closed.
• Trust your instincts. If you think it is an emergency, it probably is.

Parents are usually very good at recognizing signs of unusual behavior or other symptoms that indicate an emergency. Many other factors, including the time of day, other medical problems, or state of mind, can make an otherwise minor medical problem an "emergency."

When to Call 911 for an Ambulance

When should you call an ambulance instead of calling your Doctor or driving to the emergency department?  Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the victim's condition life threatening?
• Could the victim's condition worsen and become life threatening on the way to the hospital?
• Could moving the victim cause further injury?
• Does the victim need the skills or equipment of paramedics or emergency medical technicians?
• Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the victim to the hospital?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," or if you are unsure, it's best to call 911. This is true even though you can sometimes get to the hospital faster by driving than by calling an ambulance. Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians communicate with the Physician in the Emergency Department by radio. They are trained to begin medical treatment on the way to the hospital. This prevents any delay that could occur if the patient is driven to the Emergency Department. So as to avoid delay for critical hospital intervention, the ambulance crew will alert the Emergency Department of the patient's condition in advance.