CritiCall Dispatcher Test Emergency Codes and Terminology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'DOA' mean in emergency dispatch terminology?
- Dispatch on Alert
- Department of Administration
- Dead on Arrival (Correct answer)
- Dispatch Officer Assignment
Correct answer: Dead on Arrival
DOA means 'Dead on Arrival,' indicating that a patient was found deceased when emergency responders arrived at the scene.
Question 2: In the NATO phonetic alphabet, which letter does 'Alpha' represent?
- Letter A (Correct answer)
- Letter B
- Letter D
- Letter E
Correct answer: Letter A
'Alpha' represents the letter A in the NATO phonetic alphabet, used in radio communications to prevent confusion between similar-sounding letters.
Question 3: In fire service communications, what does the term 'working fire' indicate?
- A controlled training exercise
- An active fire requiring fire suppression resources (Correct answer)
- A fire that has already been extinguished
- A fire scene under arson investigation
Correct answer: An active fire requiring fire suppression resources
A 'working fire' is an active fire requiring fire suppression and typically results in additional resources being requested by the incident commander.
Question 4: What does 'BLS' stand for in EMS communications?
- Basic Life Support (Correct answer)
- Bureau of Law and Safety
- Backup Location System
- Basic Level Service
Correct answer: Basic Life Support
BLS stands for 'Basic Life Support,' including CPR and basic emergency care that EMT-Basic level providers are trained to perform.
Question 5: What does '10-50' typically indicate in traffic-related dispatch codes?
- Road closure ahead
- Traffic accident (Correct answer)
- Abandoned vehicle on roadway
- Road construction zone
Correct answer: Traffic accident
'10-50' typically refers to a traffic accident, making it one of the most frequently used codes in daily dispatch operations.
Question 6: What does 'Code Blue' signify in hospital communications that a dispatcher may need to coordinate?
- Security threat in the building
- Fire in the facility
- Cardiac or respiratory arrest (Correct answer)
- Missing or wandering patient
Correct answer: Cardiac or respiratory arrest
Code Blue indicates a cardiac or respiratory arrest requiring immediate resuscitation efforts by the medical team.
Question 7: What does 'MCI' stand for in emergency dispatch terminology?
- Multi-Channel Interface
- Mass Casualty Incident (Correct answer)
- Mobile Command Interface
- Medical Communications Instruction
Correct answer: Mass Casualty Incident
MCI stands for 'Mass Casualty Incident,' a situation involving multiple victims that may overwhelm normal emergency response resources.
What does 'DOA' mean in emergency dispatch terminology?