ST.

CHARLES COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL
CHAPTER 200
SECTION 02
TITLE
NUMBER

Personnel Policies & Procedures

Response Procedures
Safe Place (Mobile and Fixed Locations Procedures)
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)-6420642, identify themselves and state they are calling from a Safe Place site and give the exact
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ST. CHARLES COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL
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 members 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 2021, 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.

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