ST. CHARLES COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL

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CHAPTER 200 Personnel Policies & Procedures

SECTION 02 Response Procedures

TITLE Safe Place (Mobile and Fixed Locations Procedures)

NUMBER 202-12

DISTRIBUTION

All Personnel.

PURPOSE

To establish guidelines for paramedics when approached, either at a District EMS station or

Advanced Life Support (ALS) unit, by a youth that needs assistance from Safe-Place and its

services.

POLICY

1. It is the objective of the District to maintain a partnership with Youth in Need (YIN) and

support the Safe Place program that it runs for the safety and well-being of individuals seeking

help for services beyond the control of EMS and the District.

2. The District has agreed to partner with and act as a mobile and fixed "Safe Place" for Youth in

Need.

3. All District vehicles and EMS Stations will have the "Safe Place" Logo affixed to the front of

all buildings and both curb sides on all ALS units.

PROCEDURE

1. When approached by a youth or EMS has identified a youth in need of or requesting these

services, the paramedic shall get a general idea of the nature of the issues the youth is facing.

2. The paramedic shall be supportive and tell the youth they will be contacting Youth in Need,

provide them a comfortable place to sit and inquire if they need anything such as food/water,

bathroom etc. The youth will be looking for direction and should wait for further assistance.

3. The paramedic will contact SCCDA and advise them that the unit is “Out of Service" and have

a youth requesting Safe Place help and that you are also following Safe Place Procedures.

SCCDA will contact an available on-duty Battalion Chief or Lieutenant who can meet the crew

at their location to wait for YIN staff. In the event a Battalion Chief or Lieutenant is not

available, the ALS unit will remain out of service and await YIN staff.

4. The paramedic shall contact the St. Charles County Youth Connection Helpline at (636)-642-

0642, identify themselves and state they are calling from a Safe Place site and give the exact

ST. CHARLES COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL

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location, give the youth's name and a physical description. YIN staff will re-contact the

paramedic and advise the name of the staff member en-route to their location.

5. Upon arrival of the YIN staff, the paramedic will request to see his/her identification, with

name and picture presented on the badge. If there is any question or discrepancy, the paramedic

will call Safe Place back. The paramedic will NOT allow the youth to meet or go with anyone

who has not been verified.

6. After the youth is in the care of YIN staff, the paramedic will send an e-mail to

safeplace@sccad.com with the following information: youth's name, staff member’s name and

the date/time/location the youth sought help.

7. The crew will then return in-service with SCCDA.

8. If, for any reason, parents arrive on-scene or the environment becomes hostile, the crew will

contact SCCDA and request Law Enforcement assistance. The crew may also follow Policy 202-

1, regarding Priority 5 and 6 for crew requesting Law Enforcement.

9. This Policy is in no way intended to replace the normal reporting of any type of abuse, anyone

requesting medical attention or "Safe-Haven Law" situations. The paramedic shall use good

judgment and follow District guidelines regarding medical care for any youth requesting

assistance.

Adopted by the Board of Directors: 04/28/2016

This policy/procedure supersedes any previous policy or memorandum on this topic.