Tulane EMS is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while school is in session. There are some times when TEMS may be out of service, and in these cases, all calls for service will be transferred to New Orleans EMS, regardless of the location or nature of the call.
Tulane EMS is a fully licensed ground transport ambulance service. As such, when you request TEMS, you are requesting (and subsequently receiving), an emergent response and attention capable of stabilizing, treating, and transporting acute illnesses and life threats. When you call, an ambulance will respond, with lights and sirens, along with two to four crew members. These crew members compromise a variety of positions, from EMT students to EMS Supervisors with several years of experience. Additionally, depending on the location of the call and the nature of the call, TEMS can, and often will, activate the 911 system for Advanced Life Support (ALS) from New Orleans Fire Department and New Orleans EMS. These two agencies comprise the backbone of the public safety system for Orleans Parish, and TEMS strives to work in conjunction with, and not against, them. It is our goal that patients receive the highest quality of care and attention with the lowest response time. Often, that means working with the men and women of the municipal 911 system, something all TEMS members are extremely honored and proud to do.
With that in mind, TEMS would like to offer some suggestions on when to call for help.
 This list is not intended to be all inclusive- If in doubt, it is always better to call!
Any of the following symptoms are reasons to call for immediate medical help:
 Don't let your friend just "sleep it off." You could be ignoring the potentially fatal symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Call for help immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Please don't let fear of getting someone in trouble prevent you from getting medical help for a friend! Tulane and Loyola Universities both have policies concerning alcohol use or abuse, and while getting a friend "TEMS'ed" may seem like they or you will get in trouble, it is always more important to be concerned about the effects of acute alcohol intoxication. Under any circumstances, do NOT do any of the following:
What happens when I call?
When you call either Tulane or Loyola Police Departments, the Dispatcher will answer and ask what your emergency is. Give the dispatcher the necessary information. Answer any questions that he or she might ask. The dispatchers will ask you as a caller to provide:
It is important to not hang up until the dispatcher hangs up. They may have important instructions to relay to you. After you hang up, return to the victim or wait at the stated location for Tulane or Loyola Police to arrive. They will be able to directly contact Tulane EMS and provide up to date and exact information on both the patient and the location.
 After you call, the Police Dispatcher pages Tulane EMS over a tone dispatch system. The tones send a page through the radios carried by on duty TEMS members.
(Click the radio to hear what the tones sound like! Careful, they're loud!) The crew is quickly assembled and responds based on the call location, their present location, and severity of the call. When the first crew member arrives on scene, they will quickly assess the severity of the patient's condition. Common questions asked of the patient are those to assess their level of orientation and alertness ("What is your name? Do you know where you are, what today is, and what happened?"). Others include checking for common symptoms of life threats, such as the presence of chest pain, shortness of breath, falls, or hit to the head. If you are the patient or a bystander to a call, remain calm and let the crew work. Try not to crowd the patient or the crew. If a crew member asks you to step back, please do so. Interfering with the work of an EMT while on a call is an offense punishable by law. Crew members can request that you be taken into police custody if necessary, so the best thing to do is step back.
If you are a bystander or witnessed the event, you can provide valuable information to the EMTs on scene. Try to remember exactly what happened when the event occured. Some details you may think are minor can be very important. Try to remember: Was the patient or victim noticeably ill, in pain, or sick? Does the patient have any preexisting medical conditions or are they on any medications? If the person had a seizure or convulsions, was the entire body shaking or just one part? Did they fall or hit their head? These questions could help the EMTs provide better and more approriate care for your friends and neighbors- be aware!
Make sure that you or the person going to the hospital has their identification, insurance cards, and other necessary personal information. This information is important for the hospital staff to be able to identify you or the patient and know who to contact in case of emergency. Tulane EMS gladly allows up to one friend or family member to accompany a patient to the hospital.
Please note: Tulane EMS will NOT and CANNOT provide you with a ride back from the hospital. It is your responsibility to secure your own transportation from the hospital. We recommend taking cash or credit card with you for a taxi in the event that you do not have someone who can come and get you. TEMS recommends using United Cab (504-522-9771)- you can easily establish a charge account with them, and if not, most of their cabs are equipped to take credit cards. For more information, visit their page by clicking the logo below or calling the above number.
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When to Call |
