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Emergency Medical Dispatch EMD

All five 9-1-1 dispatch centers in Larimer County provide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) to callers with medical emergencies.

All dispatchers are certified Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD’s) who are tasked with gathering information related to medical emergencies and the delivery of medical instructions by voice, prior to the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS).

EMD certified dispatchers in Larimer County obtain certification through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (http://www.emergencydispatch.org/) . The certification requires the dispatcher to complete a 3-day instruction course, a 50-question certification exam and CPR certification.

Dispatchers are required to maintain this certification by completing 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

LETA is proud to have three ACE (Accredited Center of Excellence) accredited dispatch centers. ACE is a recognition bestowed upon a dispatch center that has established a high standard of excellence in emergency dispatch by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. The two ACE accredited centers in Larimer County are:

  • Loveland Emergency Communications Center (Accredited since 2008)
  • Fort Collins 9-1-1 (Accredited since 2011)
  • Estes Park Emergency Communications Center (Accredited since 2018)

EMD Process

When you call for a medical emergency it is critical that you;

  1. Stay calm.
  2. Answer all of the questions.
  3. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher until they tell you to hang up.

The dispatcher that answers your medical emergency will be asking you questions based on what you tell them the medical problem is. This questioning helps the Dispatcher relay that critical information to the field units so they can be prepared to assist you immediately when they arrive at your emergency. In most cases, medical help is being sent by another dispatcher while questioning is in progress.

With EMD being the “first” First Responder, the dispatcher is trained to provide you with lifesaving help, which include Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructions.
Please remember 9-1-1 is for medical emergencies for people. If your animal is having an emergency please call your veterinarians number or the after-hours emergency animal clinic in your area.