Call Prioritization Time in a Fire Priority Dispatch System

Introduction: This study represents a first attempt to classify a subset of time-todispatch in a 911 center – the call prioritization time. This time is defined as the time required to gather critical case information, after the address is obtained, and prior to notifying responder units of the call. This study characterizes call prioritization time in nine different 911 centers, all using the Fire Priority Dispatch System (FPDS). Times were examined by individual agency, overall, Methods: This was a retrospective, non-controlled, descriptive study involving nine 911 and by FPDS Priority Level. Objectives: The primary objective in this study was to determine call prioritization time by FPDS Priority Level, Chief Complaint type, individual agency, and all agencies overall. Results: Over 200,000 cases (n=205,324) cases were studied (Figure 1). Median call prioritization time for all cases was 52 seconds. 96.2 percent of all cases had a time of 120 seconds or less, and 99.2% of all cases had a time of 180 seconds or less. The most time critical calls – ECHO and DELTA – were prioritized in 90 seconds or less, 90% of the time. Conclusions: Call prioritization times varied significantly by Chief Complaint, FPDS Priority Level, and agency. The highest Priority Level (ECHO) had the shortest median call prioritization time (18 seconds) while the BRAVO level priority had the longest (55 seconds). Future research will investigate the ability of the FPDS to handle specific call types—particularly Structure Fires—within time standards set by the NFPA and ISO, and create better time standards that better define the differ ences in call evaluation processes.