KALAMAZOO, Mich. — When a life-threatening emergency unfolds in Kalamazoo County, a rarely seen but highly coordinated system can be activated to bring every available level of medical response to the scene, including physicians.
The protocol, known as an ECHO response, is reserved for the most critical incidents, such as suspected cardiac arrests, severe trauma, or situations where a patient’s condition is immediately life-threatening. Emergency officials say it is designed to ensure the fastest possible access to trained help when minutes or even seconds matter.
The system was first implemented in Kalamazoo County in 2008 as part of a broader effort to strengthen emergency medical response and improve survival outcomes in high-acuity cases.
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The process is triggered by dispatchers when a call meets specific criteria indicating extreme severity. Once activated, the alert expands beyond traditional fire and EMS units, notifying police officers, firefighters, and other trained responders who may be nearby. In some cases, off-duty personnel in the area can also be directed to assist…