Question

Who may be responsible for ordering mutual aid?

A: A BLS provider with a patient requiring ALS

B: The officer in charger (captain, chief, etc.)

C: An ALS provider that needs more man power

D: All of the above

E: None of the above

Answer 1

All listed individuals are potentially responsible for ordering mutual aid in emergency medical services; a BLS provider needing ALS services, an officer in charge, and an ALS provider requiring more manpower can all authorize mutual aid.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of emergency medical services, mutual aid is often requested when additional resources or specialized services are needed at an incident that exceeds the capability of the current responders. When considering who may be responsible for ordering mutual aid, the following could be involved:

• A Basic Life Support (BLS) provider with a patient requiring services at the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level may need to call for mutual aid to ensure the patient receives the proper level of care.
• The officer in charge, such as a captain or chief, typically has the authority to request mutual aid when the situation warrants it, whether for additional personnel, equipment, or expertise.
• An Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider might need more manpower or specialized equipment that their unit does not carry, and thus would be responsible for ordering mutual aid.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: D: All of the above. Each of these individuals has the potential to recognize the need for and to authorize a mutual aid request within their scope of practice and according to the protocols of their organization.