COC

 

Emergency Medical Services
            Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff work around the clock responding to medical emergencies and transporting patients to the hospital as needed.  During the last five years, the Department responded to an average 7500 EMS calls annually.
To provide this service, the department maintains two Advanced Life Support (ALS) units that respond to life-threatening emergencies, and two Basic Life Support (BLS) that respond to non-life-threatening emergencies.  In situations where more hands and resources are needed, such as a heart attack or multiple-casualty incidents, the ALS and BLS units may assist each other on scene; or they may request assistance from an available engine company.

 

Fire and Rescue Services
The department averages over 3,000 emergency calls each year for assistance involving hazardous materials, explosions, trapped victims, and a variety of residential, commercial and other fires.  Personnel are trained in Swift Water Rescue, to assist in incidents at the Compton Creek, and Los Angeles River Bed, as well as  Urban Search  and  Rescue,  to assist in the rescue of  trapped victims.  In addition to routine emergencies, the department is responsible for developing and implementing response plans for earthquakes, floods hazardous material incidents and other major emergencies.

 

AUTOMATIC AND MUTUAL AID

If an incident exceeds the scope of City resources, the department has access to resources of nearby fire departments in Vernon, Downey, Santa Fe Springs and Montebello.  These resources are accessed through Mutual Aid, a voluntary system that enables fire departments to call upon the resources of neighboring departments, with Los Angeles County providing Automatic Aid.  In larger incidents, the department may access the statewide Mutual Aid system, which is designed to ensure that adequate resources, facilities and other support systems are provided as needed to jurisdictions throughout California.