MPDS Codes
Priority System
Response
Classification
Basic Life
Support
Level of
Response
Advanced Life
Support
Level of Response
Notes
Alpha
Cold
Cold
Non-Life Threatening
Bravo
Hot
Hot
Non-Life Threatening \ Interventions needed
Charlie
Hot
Cold
Possible Life Threatening
Delta
Hot
Hot
Life Threatening
Echo
Hot
Hot
Life Threatening \ Other Resources
Dispatched
Eg: Fire Dept, Security with an AED,
Lifeguard, ...
Omega
---
---
Other Resources Dispatched instead of EMS
Eg: Police, Medical Examiner, ...
1 - Abdominal Pain
Code
Sub Category
1D1
Not alert
1C1
Fainting or near fainting >50 y/o
1C2
Females fainting or near fainting 12-50 y/o
1C3
Males w/ pain above navel >45 y/o
1C4
Females w/ pain above navel >45 y/o
1A1
Abdominal pain
2 - Allergic Reaction
Code
Sub Category
2E1
Ineffective breathing
2D1
Severe respiratory distress
2D2
Not alert
2D3
Condition worsening
2D4
Swarm attack (bees)
2D5
Snakebite
2C1
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
2C2
Special medications or injections used
2B1
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
2A1
No difficulty breathing or swallowing
2A2
Spider bite
3 - Animal Bites
Code
Sub Category
3D1
Unconscious or arrest
3D2
Not alert
3D3
Dangerous body area
3D4
Large animal
3D5
Exotic animal
3D6
Attack or multiple attack
3B1
Possibly dangerous body part
3B2
Serious hemorrhage
3B3
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
3A1
Not dangerous body area
3A2
Non-recent injuries >6 hours
3A3
Superficial bites
4 Assault
(A=Assault / S=Sexual Assault)
Code
Sub Category
4D1
Unconscious or arrest
4D2
Not alert
4D3
Abnormal breathing
4D4
Dangerous body area
4D5
Multiple victims
4B1
Possibly dangerous body area
4B2
Serious hemorrhage
4B3
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
4A1
Not dangerous body area
4A2
Non-recent injuries >6 hours
5 - Back Pain
Code
Sub Category
5D1
Not alert
5C1
Fainting or near fainting >50 y/o
5A1
Non-traumatic
5A2
Non-recent injuries >6 hours
6 - Breathing Difficulty
(A=Asthma)
Code
Sub Category
6E1
Ineffective breathing
6D1
Severe respiratory distress
6D2
Not alert
6D3
Clammy
6C1
Abnormal breathing
6C2
Cardiac history
7 - Burn Subject
Code
Sub Category
7D1
Unconscious or arrest
7D2
Severe respiratory distress
7D3
Not alert
7D4
Explosion
7D5
Multiple victims
7C1
Building fire w/ persons inside
7C2
Difficulty breathing
7C3
Burns >18% BSA
7B1
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
7A1
Burns 35 y/o
7A2
Fire alarm unknown situation
7A3
Sunburn or minor burn
8 - Hazardous Exposure
Code
Sub Category
8D1
Unconscious or arrest
8D2
Severe respiratory distress
8D3
HAZMAT
8D4
Not alert
8D5
Multiple victims
8D6
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
8C1
Alert w/ difficulty breathing
8B1
Alert w/o difficulty breathing
8A1
CO alarm--EMS requested
9 - Cardiac Arrest
Code
Sub Category
9E1
Not breathing at all
9E2
Breathing uncertain
9E3
Hanging
9E4
Strangulation
9E5
Suffocation
9E6
Underwater
9D1
Ineffective breathing
9B1
Obvious Death
10 - Chest Pain
Code
Sub Category
10D1 Severe respiratory distress
10D2 Not alert
10D3 Clammy
10C1 Abnormal breathing
10C2 Cardiac history
10C3 Cocaine
10C4 Breathing normally >35 y/o
10A1 Breathing normally <35 y/o
11 - Choking
Code
Sub Category
11E1 Choking verified/ineffective breathing
11D1 Not alert
11D2 Abnormal breathing
11A1 Not choking now
12 - Seizures
Code
Sub Category
12D1 Not breathing
12D2 Continuous or multiple seizures
12D3 Irregular breathing
12D4 Breathing regularly not verified >35 y/o
12C1 Pregnancy
12C2 Diabetic
12C3 Cardiac history
12B1 Breathing regularly not verified <35
12A1 Not seizing now & breathing verified
13 - Diabetic Problems
Code
Sub Category
13D1 Unconscious
13C1 Not alert
13C2 Abnormal behavior
13C3 Abnormal breathing
13A1 Alert
14 - Drowning
Code
Sub Category
14D1 Unconscious
14D2 Not alert
14D3 Diving or neck injury
14D4 SCUBA accident
14C1 Alert w/ abnormal breathing
14B1 Alert & breathing normally w/ injuries
14B2 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
14A1 Alert & breathing normally w/o injuries
15 Electrocution
(E=Electrocution / L=Lightning)
Code
Sub Category
15E1 Not breathing/ineffective breathing
15D1 Unconscious
15D2 Not disconnected from power
15D3 Power not off
15D4 Long fall >6 feet
15D5 Not alert
15D6 Abnormal breathing
15D7 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
15C1 Alert & breathing normally
16 - Eye Problem
Code
Sub Category
16D1 Not alert
16B1 Severe eye injuries
16A1 Moderate eye injuries
16A2 Minor eye injuries
16A3 Medical eye problems
17 - Falls
Code
Sub Category
17D1 Dangerous body area
17D2 Long fall >6 feet
17D3 Not alert
17D4 Abnormal breathing
17B1 Possibly dangerous body area
17B2 Serious hemorrhage
17B3 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
17A1 Not dangerous body area
17A2 Non-recent injuries >6 hours
18 - Headache
Code
Sub Category
18C1 Not alert
18C2 Abnormal breathing
18C3 Speech problems
18C4 Sudden onset of severe pain
18C5 Numbness or paralysis
18C6 Change in behavior
18B1 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
18A1 Breathing normally
19 - Heart Problem
Code
Sub Category
19D1 Severe respiratory distress
19D2 Not alert
19D3 Clammy
19C1 Firing of AICD
19C2 Abnormal breathing
19C3 Chest pain >35 y/o
19C4 Cardiac history
19C5 Cocaine
19C6 Heart rate 130
19B1 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
19A1 Heart rate >50 or 5 months
19A2 Chest pain <35 y/o w/o symptoms
20 - Environmental Exposure
Code
Sub Category
20D1 Not alert
20C1 Cardiac history
20B1 Change in skin color
20B2 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
20A1 Alert
21 - Hemorrhage
Code
Sub Category
21D1 Dangerous hemorrhage
21D2 Not alert
21D3 Abnormal breathing
21C1 Hemorrhage through a tube
21B1 Possibly dangerous hemorrhage
21B2 Serious hemorrhage
21B3 Bleeding disorder or blood thinners
21A1 Non-dangerous hemorrhage
21A2 Minor hemorrhage
22 - Industrial Accidents
Code
Sub Category
22D1 Life status questionable
22D2 Caught in machinery
22D3 Multiple victims
22B1 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
23 Overdose
(A=Accidental / I=Intentional / P=Poisoning)
Code
Sub Category
23D1 Unconscious
23D2 Severe respiratory distress
23C1 Violent
23C2 Not alert
23C3 Abnormal breathing
23C4 Antidepressants
23C5 Cocaine
23C6 Narcotics
23C7 Acid or alkali
23C8 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
23C9 Poison Control request for response
23B1 Overdose w/o symptoms
23O1 Poisoning w/o priority symptoms
24 - Pregnancy
Code
Sub Category
24D1 Breech or cord
24D2 Head visible
24D3 Imminent delivery >5 months
24D4 3rd trimester bleeding
24D5 High risk complications
24D6 Baby born
24C1 2nd trimester hemorrhage or miscarriage
24C2 1st trimester serious hemorrhage
24B1 Labor >5 months
24B2 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
24A1 1st trimester hemorrhage or miscarriage
25 - Psychiatric Problem
Code
Sub Category
25D1 Not alert
25B1 Violent
25B2 Threatening suicide
25B3 Near hanging
25B4 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
25A1 Non-violent & non-suicidal
26 - Sick Call
Code
Sub Category
26D1
Not alert
26C1
Cardiac History
26B1
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
26A1
Non priority symptoms
26A2
Boils
26A3
Bumps
26A4
Cannot sleep
26A5
Cannot urinate
26A6
Catheter problems
26A7
Constipation
26A8
Cramps/spasms
26A9
Cut-off ring request
26A10 Deafness
26A11 Defecation/diarrhea
26A12 Earache
26A13 Enema
26A14 Gout
26A15 Hemorrhoids/piles
26A16 Hepatitis
26A17 Hiccups
26A18 Hungry
26A19 Nervous
26A20 Object stuck
26A21 Object swallowed
26A22 Penis problems
26A23 Rash/skin disorder
26A24 STD
26A25 Sore throat
26A26 Toothache
26A27 Transport only
26A28 Wound infected
27 - Stab/Gunshot/Penetrating Trauma
(S=Stabbing / G=Gunshot Wound / P=Penetrating Trauma)
Code
Sub Category
27D1 Unconscious or arrest
27D2 Not alert
27D3 Central wounds
27D4 Multiple wounds
27D5 Multiple victims
27B1 Non-recent injuries >6 hours / central wounds
27B2 Known single peripheral wound
27B3 Serious hemorrhage
27B4 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
27A1 Non-recent >6 hours / peripheral wounds
28 - Stroke
Code
Sub Category
28C1 Not alert
28C2 Abnormal breathing
28C3 Speech or movement problems
28C4 Numbness or tingling
28C5 Stoke history
28C6 Breathing normally >35 y/o
28B1 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
28A1 Breathing normally 6 hours
29 - Traffic Collision
Code
Sub Category
29D1A Major incident (aircraft)
29D1B Major incident (bus)
29D1D Major incident (train)
29D1E Major incident (watercraft)
29D2A High mechanism (all-terrain)
29D2B High mechanism (motorcycle)
29D2C High mechanism (auto-pedestrian)
29D2D High mechanism (ejection)
29D2E High mechanism (personal watercraft)
29D2F High mechanism (rollover)
29D2G High mechanism (vehicle off bridge/height)
29D3
HAZMAT
29D4
Pinned
29D5
Not alert
29B1
Injuries
29B2
Multiple victims (one unit)
29B3
Multiple victims (additional units)
29B4
Serious hemorrhage
29B5
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
29A1
1st party caller w/ non-dangerous injury
30 - Traumatic Injury
Code
Sub Category
30D
30B
30A
Unknown status (3rd party caller)
31 - Subject Unconscious
Code
Sub Category
31E1 Ineffective breathing
31D1 Unconscious
31D2 Severe respiratory distress
31D3 Not alert
31C1 Alert w/ abnormal breathing
31C2 Cardiac history
31C3 Multiple fainting episodes
31C4 Single or near fainting episodes & alert
31C5 Female 12-50 y/o w/ abdominal pain
32 - Medical Nature Unknown
Code
Sub Category
32D1 Life status questionable
32B1 Standing, moving, sitting, or talking
32B2 Medical alert notification
32B3 Unknown status (3rd party caller)
33 Transfer
(T=Transfer / I=Interfacility)
Code
Sub Category
33D1 Suspected cardiac or respiratory arrest
33C1 Not alert (acute change)
33C2 Abnormal breathing
33C3 Significant hemorrhage or shock
33C4 Possible acute heart problems or MI
33C5 Acute severe pain
33C6 Emergency response requested
33A1 No priority symptoms
AMPDS
In addition, some systems, mostly those who dispatch for Fire Departments who either have EMS
responders, or areas where one centralized dispatch center dispatches both fire and medical calls,
Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) codes may also be used. Fire codes start at 51,
and expand to 73.
Priority is similar to medical dispatch:
Priority System
Alpha Response=Code 1--Low Priority
Bravo Response=Code 2--Mid Priority
Charlie Response=Code 3--Possible threat to life or property
Delta Response=Code 3--Immediately threatening life or property
Echo Response=Code 3--Fires or emergencies that involve an imminent threat to life
Omega Response=Code 1--Lowest Priority
Typically confirmed fires (Units on scene confirming flames visible) are encoded at the Delta level, and
confirmed fires in occupied structures are encoded at the Echo level.
Fire codes: (51-73)
51 - Aircraft Emergency
51-O-1 Airborne Aircraft
51-A-1
Stand BY
51-B-1
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
51-C-1
Aircraft Incoming - Full Emergency (Alert II)
51-C-2
Aircraft Incoming - Minor Emergency (Alert II)
51-D-1
Aircraft Crash (Alert III)
51-D-2
Aircraft Crash Involving Structure (Alert III)
51-D-3
Aircraft Fire on Ground (Alert III)
52 - Alarms
52-O-1 Burglar Hold-up Alarm
52-O-2 Medical Alarm
52-B-1
Residential (Multiple)
52-B-2
Residential (Single)
52-B-3
Non-Dwelling Structure (Shed, Garage, Call Box)
52-B-4
Mobile Home, House Trailer, Portable Office
52-B-5
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
52-C-1
High Life Hazard
52-C-2
High Rise
52-C-3
Commercial Structure
53 - Citizen Assist / Service Call
53-O-1 Locked Out of Vehicle (Unoccupied)
53-O-2 Down Trees and Objects
53-O-3 Hydrant Problems
53-O-4 Sewer Problems
53-O-5 Water Main Break
53-O-6 Other
53-A-1
Locked in Vehicle (Non-Medical Assistance)
53-A-2
Locked in/Out of Dwelling (Non-Medical Assistance)
53-A-3
Citizen Assist (Non-Medical Assistance)
53-A-4
Animal Rescue
53-A-5
Water Problem
53-B-1
Locked in Vehicle (Possible Medical Assistance)
53-B-2
Locked in/Out of Dwelling (Possible Medical Assistance)
53-B-3
Citizen Assist (Possible Medical Assist)
53-B-4
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
53-C-1
Water Problem with Electrical Hazard
54 - Confined Space / Structure Collapse
54-B-1
Entrapment (Unconfirmed)
54-C-1
Entrapment (Unconfirmed) with Hazardous Materials
54-D-1
Entrapment (confirmed)
54-D-2
Entrapment (Confirmed) with Hazardous Materials
55 - Electrical Hazard
55-A-1
Transformer Outside (Wire or Pole)
55-A-2
Appliance with No Odor Present
55-B-1
Electrical Arching
55-B-2
Wires Down with No Smoke or Arching
55-B-3
Appliance with Odor Present
55-B-4
Electrical Odor
55-B-5
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
55-C-1
Electrical Hazard with or near Water
55-C-2
Wires Down with smoke or arching
56 - Elevator / Escalator Rescue
56-O-1 Elevator Malfunction - No Occupants Inside
56-O-2 Escalator Incident - Not Caught (with or without injuries)
56-A-1
Elevator Malfunction - Occupants Inside
56-B-1
Elevator Malfunction - Occupants Inside (Medical Condition Present)
56-B-2
Caught (Escalator) with no injuries
56-B-3
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
56-D-1
Entrapment (Escalator) with injuries
57 - Explosion
57-B-1
Vehicle Explosion
57-B-2
Non-Structure Explosion
57-B-3
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
57-D-1
High Life Hazard
57-D-2
High Rise
57-D-3
Commercial Structure
57-D-4
Residential (Multiple)
57-D-5
Residential (Single)
57-D-6
Large Non-Dwelling Structure (Barn, Storage Building)
57-D-7
Small Non-Dwelling Structure (Shed, Detached Garage)
57-D-8
Large Fuel/Fire Load Vehicle
57-D-9
Mobile Home, House Trailer, Portable Office
58 - Extrication / Entrapped (Machinery, Vehicle)
58-B-1
Entrapment (Unconfirmed)
58-B-2
No Longer trapped
58-D-1
Entrapment (Confirmed)
59 - Fuel Spill
59-B-1
Uncontained Spill <50 Gallons
59-B-2
Contained Spill <50 Gallons
59-C-1
Uncontained Spill >50 Gallons
59-C-2
Contained Spill >50 Gallons
59-C-3
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
60 - Gas Leak (Natural and LP Gases)
60-B-1
Outside Tank Leak <5 Gallons
60-B-2
Outside Odor
60-C-1
Outside Tank Leak >5 Gallons
60-D-1
Inside Rupture/Tank Leak (Odor)
60-D-2
Outside Rupture (Odor)
61 - HazMat
61-A-1
Abandoned Waste
61-B-1
Small Spill (<5 Gallons)
61-C-1
HazMat (Contained)
61-C-2
Illegal Drug Lab
61-D-1
HazMat (Uncontained or moving)
61-D-2
HazMat Fire (Outside)
61-D-3
Illegal Drug Lab Fire (Outside)
61-D-4
Illegal Drug Lab (Uncontained or Moving)
62 - High Angle Rescue
62-B-1
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
62-D-1
High Angle Rescue
63 - Lightning Strike (Investigation)
63-B-1
Residential (Single)
63-B-2
Non-Dwelling Structure (Shed, Garage)
63-B-3
Mobile Home, House Trailer, Portable Office
63-B-4
Outside Lightning Strike
63-B-5
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
63-C-1
High Life Hazard
63-C-2
High Rise
63-C-3
Commercial Structure
63-C-4
Residential (Multiple)
64 - Marine Fire
64-B-1
Extinguished Fire
64-D-1
Threatened Structure or Other Boats
64-D-2
Docked in Coastal Water
64-D-3
Docked in Inland Water
64-D-4
Beached in Coastal Water
64-D-5
Beached in Inland Water
64-D-6
Coastal Water
64-D-7
Oceanic Water
64-D-8
Inland Water
64-D-9
Dry Dock
65 - Mutual Aid / Assist Outside Agency
65-A-1
Mutual Aid to Incident (Single Unit)
65-A-2
Assist Outside Agency (Single Unit)
65-A-3
Mutual Aid Move Up/Cover (Station Assignment)
65-A-4
Mutual Aid to Staging Area
65-B-1
Mutual Aid to Incident (Single Unit)
65-B-2
Assist Outside Agency (Single Unit)
65-D-1
Mutual Aid to Incident (Multiple Units)
65-D-2
Assist Outside Agency (Multiple Unit)
66 - Odor (Strange / Unknown)
66-A-1
Odor Inside
66-A-2
Odor Outside
66-C-1
Odor with Patients
67 - Outside Fire
67-O-1 Controlled Burn
67-A-1
Transformer (Wire or Pole)
67-A-2
Extinguished Fire
67-B-1
Small Outside Fire
67-B-2
Small Outside Fire with hazardous materials present
67-B-3
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
67-D-1
Wildland Fire
67-D-2
Brush/Grass Fire
67-D-3
Large Outside Fire
67-D-4
Large Outside Fire with hazardous materials
68 - Smoke Investigation (Outside)
68-A-1
Light Smoke
68-A-2
Odor of Smoke
68-C-1
Heavy Smoke
69 - Structure Fire
69-C-1
Appliance Fire (Contained)
69-C-2
Extinguished Fire
69-D-1
High Life Hazard
69-D-2
High Rise
69-D-3
Commercial Structure
69-D-4
Residential (Multiple)
69-D-5
Residential (Single)
69-D-6
Chimney
69-D-7
Large Non-Dwelling Structure (Barn, Storage Building)
69-D-8
Small Non-Dwelling Structure (Shed, Detached Garage)
69-D-9
Mobile Home, House Trailer, Portable Office
69-D-10 Unknown Situation (Investigation)
69-E-1
Person on Fire (Inside)
69-E-2
Trapped in Structure Fire
70 - Train / Rail Incident
70-O-1 Moving Train
70-B-1
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
70-D-1
Structure Involved
70-D-2
Derailment Below Ground
70-D-3
Derailment Elevated (Above ground)
70-D-4
Derailment at Ground Level
70-D-5
Derailment in Tunnel
70-D-6
Fire on Board Below Ground
70-D-7
Fire on Board Elevated (Above Ground)
70-D-8
Fire on Board at Ground Level
70-D-9
Fire on Board in Tunnel
70-D-10 Vehicle(s) Involved
71 - Vehicle Fire
71-A-1
Vehicle Fire (Extinguished)
71-B-1
Vehicle Fire
71-B-2
Large Fuel/Fire Load Vehicle (extinguished)
71-C-1
Vehicle Fire Threatening Non-Structure
71-C-2
Vehicle Fire in Parking Garage
71-D-1
Vehicle Fire with Threatened Structure
71-D-2
Tanker or Tractor-Trailer (Semi) with Flammable Cargo
71-D-3
Large Fuel/Fire Load Vehicle
71-E-1
Vehicle Fire (Occupants Trapped)
72 - Water Rescue
72-A-1
Animal Rescue
72-B-1
Stranded Motorist (Non-threatened)
72-B-2
Unknown Situation (Investigation)
72-E-1
Sinking Vehicle
72-E-2
Ice Rescue
72-E-3
Swift Water Rescue
72-E-4
Scuba Dive Accident
72-E-5
Swimming Pool Rescue
72-E-6
Coastal Water Rescue
72-E-7
Inland Water Rescue
72-E-8
Oceanic Water Rescue
73 - Watercraft in Distress
73-B-1
Out of Fuel
73-B-2
Engine Will Not Start
73-B-3
Run Aground
73-B-4
Flare Sighting (other than Orange or Red)
73-D-1
Taking on Water
73-D-2
Person Overboard
73-D-3
Flare Sighting (Orange or Red)
73-D-4
Unknown Situation (Investigation) test
