Cape & Islands EMS services.

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Emergency Medical Services

EMS service on Cape Cod began long ago as local fire departments organized "Rescue Squads"
to assist residents with medical emergencies, auto accidents, and drownings. Some departments began
their rescue services as early as the 1930's. Others followed. In some towns, the police department
provided ambulance services.

By the 1960's when EMS was "officially" born, most of the Cape fire departments were already
running ambulances and providing basic American Red Cross first aid and CPR. Volunteer
rescuers were dedicated to providing service and communities grew to appreciate and
respect the services provided by the Rescue Squads.

Early in the 1970's, local physicians, fire chiefs, rescue squad members, and concerned citizens
joined to form an organization to better organize and upgrade ems service in the region.
The Cape & Islands Emergency Medical Services System, Inc. (CIEMSS) was born in 1974.
 

A grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided initial funding for a UHF radio
system for ambulance to hospital communications. The grant also funded EMT training
and then in 1975 the first paramedic training in Massachusetts.

The 1970's saw the Cape & Islands system refinement and development into a nationally
recognized ems system. New modular style ambulances replaced traditional Cadillac like
ambulances. Cardiac monitor-defibrillators and other ems gear were purchased, in many
cases through community fund raises and donations.

The CIEMSS system has continued to grow and be recognized as a leader in the ems world.

Today, the Cape & Islands system covers four hospitals, 29 provider agencies, using
approximately 60 ambulances, with hundreds of highly trained ems providers.
Upwards of 35,000 ems incidents are handled within the system annually.

EMS Communications

Barnstable CMED - KAG 416
The Centralized Emergency Medical Services Dispatch center
is located at the Barnstable Sheriff's Department in Barnstable village.
One dispatcher is assigned per shift to CMED.

Initial dispatch of ems calls is done by the local ems providers. As ambulances sign on the
air responding, Barnstable CMED is notified on CMED Channel 4 of the incident and
unit responding. EMS providers operate under BLS and ALS protocols. During
transport, ambulances contact CMED for a notification "patch" to the destination hospital.
Providers use a priority code system to enable CMED to assign radio channels to highest
priority incidents. A system of UHF radio channels and telephone lines are utilized
Radio channels are paired (duplex) and allow nurses or physicians and ems providers to
speak and relay med orders much like a telephone conversation.

Hospitals in the system

Cape Cod Hospital - Hyannis

Falmouth Hospital - Falmouth

Tobey Hospital - Wareham

Martha's Vineyard Hospital - Oak Bluffs

Barnstable CMED at the new MMR Fire Station

Barnstable CMED
Barnstable County Control mutual aid board

The New Barnstable CMED at Otis 2007

Updated Radio System
2013

The CMED Radio System went to the Narrow-Band structure on January 1, 2013
Some of the channels utilized since the inception of C-MED in the 1970's changed.

Narrow banding essentially fit more frequencies (channels) in between previously
designated frequencies (channels). The older frequencies tend to be called "Channel __ Narrow"
and the newer (stuffed in there frequencies) tend to be called "Channel __ - 2"

CMED Base Stations continue to utilize the 463._ _ _ _ input frequencies
and the Ambulances utilize the 468._ _ _ _ input frequencies.

The Primary Calling Channel continues to be EMS Channel 4
463.0750  PL-114.8    and   468.0750  PL 114.8

The PATCH Channels now assigned to Barnstable CMED are:
Channel 2 (Narrow)....... 463.0250 & 468.0250
Channel 3 (Narrow)....... 463.0500 & 468.0500
Channel 7 (Narrow)....... 463.1500 & 468.1500
Channel 8 - 2................. 463.1875 & 468.1875

The radio system continues to utilize 6 radio repeater tower sites throughout the area.
Towers are located in Barnstable, Falmouth, Orleans, Bourne, Truro, and Chilmark.

The Old Radio System

EMS Radio frequencies used within the Cape & Islands system
463. mhz are used by base - 468.mhz by mobiles

Primary Calling Channel (CH.4)........... 463.075 & 468.075

Patch Channel (CH.2).........463.025 & 468.025
Patch Channel (CH.5)..........463.100 & 468.100
Patch Channel (CH.7)..........463.150 & 468.150
Patch Channel (CH,8)..........463.175 & 468.175

The system also uses 155.280 & 155.340 although less frequently.

The system uses 6 radio repeater tower sites throughout the area.
Towers are located in Barnstable, Falmouth, Orleans, Bourne, Truro, and Chilmark.

Priority Codes

Priority One.......... Highest Priority (Immediately Life Threatening Emergency)

Priority Two.......... Significant Priority (Potentially Life Threatening Emergency)

Priority Three............ Low Priority (Non Life Threatening Emergency)

Priority Four................ Routine Transfer Notifications (Non Emergency)

Ambulance CMED Radio Numbering

CMED.....FIRE........DEPT

R-303.......A-133.......Bourne
R-304.......A-134.......Bourne
R-305.......A-135.......Bourne
R-306.......A-136.......Bourne

R-307.......A-457.......Sandwich
R-308.......A-458.......Sandwich
R-309.......A-459.......Sandwich
R-310.......A-456.......Sandwich

R-322....A-424....USCG JBCC

R-311.......A-35.........Falmouth
R-312.......A-37.........Falmouth
R-313.......A-38.........Falmouth
R-314.......A-39.........Falmouth
R-315.......A-36.........Falmouth

R-316.......A-361.......Mashpee
R-317.......A-362.......Mashpee
R-318.......A-363.......Mashpee

R-320.........A-262........Cotuit

R-324.......A-324.......COMM
R-325.......A-325.......COMM
R-326.......A-326.......COMM
R-327.......A-327.......COMM

R-330.......A-293.......West Barnstable

R-333.....A-203......Barnstable

R-335.......A-825.......Hyannis
R-336.......A-831.......Hyannis
R-337.......A-827.......Hyannis
R-338.......A-828.......Hyannis

R-339.......A-57.........Yarmouth
R-340.......A-56.........Yarmouth
R-341.......A-53.........Yarmouth
R-342.......A-54.........Yarmouth
R-343.......A-55.........Yarmouth

R-344.......A-104........Dennis
R-345.......A-105........Dennis
R-346.......A-106........Dennis
R-347.......A-107........Dennis
 

  R-349.......A-244......Brewster  
R-350.......A-242......Brewster
R-351.......A-243......Brewster

R-352.......A-72........Harwich
R-353.......A-73........Harwich
R-354.......A-74........Harwich
R-355.......A-75........Harwich

R-356.......A-182......Chatham
R-357.......A-183......Chatham
R-358.......A-184......Chatham

R-361.......A-174......Orleans
R-362.......A-172......Orleans
R-363.......A-173......Orleans

R-364.......A-162......Eastham
R-365.......A-163......Eastham

R-367.......A-97........Wellfleet
R-368.......A-98........Wellfleet
R-369.......A-99........Wellfleet

R-371.......A-486......Truro
R-372.......A-487......Truro

R-375.......A-198......Provincetown
R-376.......A-196......Provincetown
R-377.......A-197......Provincetown
R-378.......A-598......Provincetown - LCA
R-379.......A-599......Provincetown - LCA

R-380.......Echo-90.........Edgartown Amb 262
R-381.......Tango 90.......Tisbury Amb
R-382.......Oscar 90........Oak Bluffs Amb 562
R-383.......Oscar 91........Oak Bluffs Amb 563
R-384.......Charlie 90......Chilmark Amb
R-385.......Whiskey 90....West Tisbury Amb
R-386.......Echo 91.........Edgartown Amb 263
R-387.......Alpha 90........Aquinnah Amb
R-388.......Tango 91......Tisbury Amb
R-389.......Oscar 92.......Oak Bluffs Amb 564

R-390.......C-740.......Wareham EMS 1
R-391.......A-741.......Wareham
R-392.......A-742.......Wareham
R-393.......A-743.......Wareham

R-394.......A-1...........Marion
R-395.......A-2...........Marion

R-397.......A-207.......Rochester
R-398.......A-208.......Rochester

R-399.......A-412........Mattapoisett
R-396.......A-413........Mattapoisett

 

Sandwich Ambulance 459  (EMS 309)
2016 Ford / Lifeline

 

Lower Cape Ambulance (Provincetown) Ambulance 598 (EMS 378)
2013 (2016) Chevy / Demers
 

Joint Base Cape Cod USCG Ambulance 424 (EMS 322)
2016 Chevy / Wheeled Coach 

Brewster Ambulance 244 (EMS 349)
2015 Ford / Life Line

 

Harwich Ambulance 73 (EMS 353)
2014 International / Life Line

Bourne Ambulance 133 (EMS 303)
2014 International / Horton
 

Barnstable Ambulance 203 (EMS 333)
2013 Ford / Life Line

 

 

2006 Ford / Oasis Type III Ambulance operated by Mattapoisett Police Department EMS

 

 

Cape & Islands EMS Services.

CIEMSS EMS 1

CIEMSS Director Richard Knowlton since 2015
(retired Hyannis FD Lieutenant / Paramedic)

CIEMSS PARAMEDICS
Paramedics from across Cape Cod trained in Firefighter Rehab
during refresher class May 2016

Former CIEMSS Director William Flynn (right)
(retired Fire Chief / Paramedic Harwich FD)

Mass Casualty Drill 2016
Train derailment drill in Barnstable village May 14, 2016

CIEMSS MCI TRAILERS
#1 - Eastham Fire Station - 25 Patients
#2 - East Harwich Station - 25 Patients
#3 - West Barnstable Station - 50 Patient
#4 - Mashpee Station - 25 Patient
#5 - Nantucket Fire Dept - 25 Patient
#6 - USCG MMR Clinic - 25 Patient (non trailer)

Len Nelson, former Director of Cape & Islands Emergency Medical Services System, Inc.

CAPE COD'S NEWEST PARAMEDICS 2006
Jan 13, 2006 - Word comes that several members of Paramedic Class 40 have completed training and are ready to practice:  Congratulations to:
 

Some of the "old" CIEMSS Team

Lisa Stubbs, Glenn Leudtke, Chris Lewis, Larry Heidenberg
at the 2000 Fire Prevention Parade.
(Glen has moved on to Delaware.  Chris has left the office.  Larry has moved on to Arizona)
As of 2002.

CIEMSS DIRECTOR GLENN LUEDTKE ACCEPTS NEW POSITION

Glenn Luedtke (Right), Director of Cape & Islands EMS System, Inc for the past 10 years
has announced he has accepted a new position and will be leaving the Cape effective
January 7, 2001. Luedtke, photographed recently with suitcase in hand, has admired clowns for years.
Quoted in a recent interview, Luedtke reportedly said "I have always had this thing for makeup and funny
colored wigs." Luedtke, whose newsletter column "Bald Facts" has entertained many of us for years,
says "Running CIEMSS for the past 10 years has been, at times, just like being in a circus."
A recognized leader, admired teacher, and friend to all he comes in contact with,
Luedtke has learned that ems does not have to be only blood and guts. "There are people
out there suffering everyday from something. I am here to help them get over it." "I have always
thought about wearing colorful outfits and acting foolish in disguise. It makes a lot of sense
when you think about it. We do it all the time around here."
Paramedics, nurses, doctors, fire chiefs,
and others expressed their appreciation for Glenn and their sense of loss at this pending
departure... "Finally!" one said. "Glenn who?" expressed another. "A clown! That's really
funny!" said yet another. Tears welled up in the eyes of one CIEMSS insider who will miss
Glenn the most "Does this mean I can have the office with the window now?" This came as
a shock to others who did not know of Luedtke's secret desire to throw away a career
in EMS for the joy of tent life "This is like sitting on a 14 gauge needle. It really hurts
me right in the ___!" Luedtke's departure is "Not as bad as waiting to get a test date."
said a recent graduate from CIEMSS's 1997 paramedic class.
"I hope to make a difference in this world" says Luedtke. "Making people laugh and clowning
around is better than circling the drain." And so it will be, as Glenn sets off into the sunset
soon.

BEST WISHES TO GLENN AND SHERRY

THANKS FOR MAKING US ALL BETTER

YOU DONE GOOD!

Not a reprint of the story in Nov 2000 CIEMSS Newsletter
Click on CIEMSS Logo below for more....

MORE PHOTOS 1

MORE PHOTOS 2

Related Links

Link to CapeCod Healthcare Hospitals

Emergency Medical Teaching Services, Inc

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