I find myself thinking about this, particularly when driving around, because it seems to be such a controversy. I'm always curious how far I can travel in my personal vehicle, generally following traffic laws (yes, I tend to not follow the speed limit and I do roll-through at some stop signs). It is often acknowledged that most EMS incidents are not true emergencies and the true emergencies are not as time sensitive as the lay-person might perceive. So, we generally know that response times may be over emphasized. But, nonetheless we have to show up at some point and the public expects/demands a speedy response.
What would the ideal response times be? Should it vary by system design (e.g. all-ALS vs. tiered vs. first response vs. no first response, etc.) and geographical area?
My take is that BLS should be the fastest component, whether it is FD-based first response, PD-based, or a volunteer responding in their POV.
ALS response, I think can be more relaxed.
I think times will and should vary by population density. The more dense the population, the more people you can reach in a smaller distance traveled, but average speed will be less than in area where the population is more spread out.
This is generally what I think as being ideal based on observation of travel speed in different setting (per my garmen... 20-24 in urban, 30-35 in suburban, 40-45 in rural - these based on moving time, not with stops counted.)
For all systems: a reflex time of 3 minutes. (from call to unit responding)
I'd propose for urban and dense suburban (say, >1500-2000 per square mile):
4-6 minutes for first response
6-8 minutes for BLS ambulance
8-10 (maybe 12?) for ALS
For suburban (less dense, <1500/sq mi)
6 for first response
8-10 for BLS ambulance
10-12 for ALS
For low density suburban, near rural (<500 sq/mile)
8 min for first response
10 for BLS
14 for ALS
For rural (<250/sq mi; of course, the closer the population density gets to 1, the longer the response time)
10 for first response
12 for BLS
16 for ALS
I'm more interested in the questions I posed; I'm not too interested what people think of what I think is ideal, but would be interested in what others think is ideal and thoughts on the subject.
Should we we use fractile response time or should we use medians? Should fractiles be 90%, or should it be less?
I guess we'll see where this goes (if anywhere)...
What would the ideal response times be? Should it vary by system design (e.g. all-ALS vs. tiered vs. first response vs. no first response, etc.) and geographical area?
My take is that BLS should be the fastest component, whether it is FD-based first response, PD-based, or a volunteer responding in their POV.
ALS response, I think can be more relaxed.
I think times will and should vary by population density. The more dense the population, the more people you can reach in a smaller distance traveled, but average speed will be less than in area where the population is more spread out.
This is generally what I think as being ideal based on observation of travel speed in different setting (per my garmen... 20-24 in urban, 30-35 in suburban, 40-45 in rural - these based on moving time, not with stops counted.)
For all systems: a reflex time of 3 minutes. (from call to unit responding)
I'd propose for urban and dense suburban (say, >1500-2000 per square mile):
4-6 minutes for first response
6-8 minutes for BLS ambulance
8-10 (maybe 12?) for ALS
For suburban (less dense, <1500/sq mi)
6 for first response
8-10 for BLS ambulance
10-12 for ALS
For low density suburban, near rural (<500 sq/mile)
8 min for first response
10 for BLS
14 for ALS
For rural (<250/sq mi; of course, the closer the population density gets to 1, the longer the response time)
10 for first response
12 for BLS
16 for ALS
I'm more interested in the questions I posed; I'm not too interested what people think of what I think is ideal, but would be interested in what others think is ideal and thoughts on the subject.
Should we we use fractile response time or should we use medians? Should fractiles be 90%, or should it be less?
I guess we'll see where this goes (if anywhere)...