As of April 1st 2014, Orange County EMS Agency Implemented NEW Policy & Procedure
The County of Orange now requires EMS Agencies to have a Med-9 radio installed separate from their Dispatch Radios, both in their Ambulances & Dispatch Center.
Below is an excerpt from Ambulance Regulations Policy #720.70
UHF MED-9 COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT:
A. All ambulance Communication equipment shall be Operational at all times.
Each ambulance shall have one (1) UHF MED-9 radio programmed with two MED-9 channels.
MED-9 RP This is a countywide repeater channel that provides coverage to the Orange County area, and may be used anywhere inside and adjacent to the County of Orange when wide-area coverage is required, or when contact with OCC or OC EMS is necessary.
MED-9 TA This is the output of the MED-9 RP channel. providing a talk around mode of communication and may be used anywhere inside and adjacent to the County of Orange when line of sight communications is required. OCC cannot be contacted on MED-9 TA.
B. The UHF MED-9 Radio shall be in the "on" and programmed to the MED-9 channel at all times and the microphone attached while the ambulance is in operation.
C. The ambulance service provider shall be responsible for all maintenance and repair costs to the communications equipment installed in the ground ambulance.
D. This communication equipment is designated for MCI, disaster or emergency use only, not for day-to-day dispatch operations.
E. If an ambulance is assigned to a strike team, or to an incident, at the request of the strike team leader, OCEMS, IC or equivalent authority, they shall activate and monitor the Med 9 radio frequency continuously.
F. Every ambulance provider shall have continuous access to a MED 9 radio in dispatch. This shall be a separate radio from other dispatch equipment and shall be on at all times.
*Visit the Orange County EMS Website for complete policy details.