Rochester, New York, USA

Emergencies

GVA's primary and highest priority service is responding to emergency calls as dispatched by the Monroe County Emergency Communications Department (911 center). During emergencies: CALL 911 FOR HELP!!!!

• GVA is dispatched to all EMS calls in the North Greece and Lake Shore fire districts. (View a Monroe County fire district map.) When the caller requests 911 to send GVA or when adjoining emergency services request mutual aid, GVA is dispatched to other districts.
• GVA works closely with the fire departments in our primary response area. The fire department is dispatched to many medical emergencies, particularly serious ones, because they are often closer to the location. Fire department personnel are equipped and trained to provide initial medical care and are expert at removing patients from difficult locations such as vehicle accidents.
• GVA transports to any Monroe County hospital. The destination is decided by the patient (or family) and the medic in charge. In life-threatening situations, it might be necessary to take the patient to the nearest hospital or to a specific hospital equipped for the particular problem.
• Patient is medically treated at the emergency scene and during the transport to arrive at the emergency room in the best condition possible.
• GVA can perform emergency transfers, in which a patient is transported from one medical facility to another when this is required for their care. This service is requested by the medical personnel at the originating facility.
• GVA participates in Monroe County programs for multiple casualty incidents and Homeland Security.

How you can help during an emergency:

• Don't delay. Call 911 as soon as you recognize that there is an emergency.
• Answer the 911 call-taker's questions. Don't hang up. The emergency operator might have additional questions to ask you or information to give you about what you can do until help arrives. Let them end the call.
• Turn on outside lights at night.
• Have someone meet and direct the emergency responders.
• Secure any pets.
• Gather the patient's medications.
• Clear obstructions that impede access to the patient.
• If the patient has any advance medical care directives, have them ready to hand to the responders. This is particularly important for orders requesting that any care be witheld (the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form is used for this in the out of hospital setting).

How you can prepare:

• Label your house with large house numbers visible from the street. (The Town of Greece requires that house numbers be at least four inches tall in a color contrasting with the house color.) If your mail box is at the street, label both sides with the house number.
• Prepare a written medical history.
• Teach your children how to call 911 and when it is appropriate to do it.
• Talk to your doctor about whether you or your children should wear MedicAlert jewelry to advise EMS personnel about a serious medical condition.
• Discuss your health care wishes with your doctor and your family and complete the appropriate paperwork, known as advance medical care directives, that can include a living will, a health care proxy (forms available online) and the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form.
• Take CPR and first aid classes.
• Prepare for a disaster, as recommended by the United States Department of Homeland Security.