EMD Resource Allocation and Prioritization 3

Question 1

During a mass casualty incident, what is the dispatcher's primary resource management responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Alerting hospitals, coordinating staging of incoming resources, and maintaining communication with the incident commander

Answer

The dispatcher serves as the coordination hub — mobilizing resources, notifying receiving facilities, and relaying information to and from the scene.

Question 2

With only one available unit and two simultaneous Priority 1 calls, what should primarily guide assignment?

Accepted Answer

The determinant code indicating the most immediately life-threatening condition

Answer

Determinant codes objectively rank call severity, providing an evidence-based standard for prioritizing the single available unit.

Question 3

What is 'call stacking' in EMD resource management?

Accepted Answer

Queuing pending calls in severity order when all units are committed, holding them for the next available resource

Answer

Call stacking allows the dispatch system to queue unmet demand by priority rather than first-in first-out, so the most critical pending call is handled next.

Question 4

During a large MCI, an unrelated cardiac arrest call arrives from across the service area. What is the appropriate dispatcher action?

Accepted Answer

Dispatch any remaining available local units and activate mutual aid to cover both incidents

Answer

Every life-threatening call must receive a response; mutual aid bridges the gap when local resources are already committed to the MCI.

Question 5

Which resource category should a dispatcher immediately notify when an MCI is declared?

Accepted Answer

Receiving hospitals, off-duty personnel recall, and mutual aid partners

Answer

MCI declaration triggers a system-wide notification to ensure hospitals prepare surge capacity and additional personnel and units can be mobilized.

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

EMD Resource Allocation and Prioritization 3