Glenwood Springs Fire Department responds with red lights and sirens to all emergency medical service incidents regardless of severity of the call, exposing personnel and the public to unnecessary risk. The research purpose was to identify benefits and risks associated with use of red lights and sirens (RLS), and identify if use of an emergency medical dispatch call prioritization process by the Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority to limit use of red lights and sirens can effectively reduce unnecessary risk.Research questions asked: (a) What factors influence emergency medical services (EMS) response mode policies? (b) What are perceived benefits, risks and risk reduction policies surrounding the decision to use RLS for response to EMS calls? (c) How has utilization of emergency medical dispatch call prioritization impacted other fire departments, EMS agencies and dispatch centers? and (d) What would be the impact of implementing the existing, yet un-utilized, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials emergency medical dispatch call prioritization process in Garfield County? Descriptive research utilized surveys of chiefs, medical directors, dispatch center directors and legal counsel to analyze experiences with use of red lights and sirens and emergency medical dispatch call prioritization. Research found risks of using red lights and sirens outweigh benefits unless warranted by patient need.Furthermore, it was found emergency medical dispatch call prioritization is successful in mitigating unnecessary risk. Evaluative research was also conducted via a response mode study to assess impacts and effectiveness of Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority's existing, yet un-utilized, call prioritization process. The study showed the process is indeed effective and the recommendation was made to implement the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials' emergency medical dispatch call prioritization process in Garfield County following an evaluation, revision, education and training.