Table 2.

Data collection summary table

Data collection	Quantity	Primary focus (why it was done)	Details (what was done)
In-depth semistructured interviews	10	(1) To capture diverse narratives of the experience across a range of EMS actors to understand different perspectives. (2) To identify and explore the influence of the capacities over collective action.	Purposively sampled across EMS managerial ranks, and frontliners from across the system including ambulance crews, and safety desk colleagues from the communications centre.
Observations		To support a deeper exploration of the capacities and supplement the narratives from interview data.	Observations were split across day shift and night shift.
Ride-a-longs	Four shifts (3 days/1 night) 14 observational hours
Safety desk	Four shifts (2 days/2 nights) 10 observational hours
Research diary	1	To document observations, wider reflections and assist with deeper understanding of positionality.	Reflections captured throughout the research process. Specifically, detailed notes of the observations were made.
Research team discussions (University colleagues, L.G. and A.G.)	12	Sense-making sessions to draw in broader health systems experiences and literature.	Research process and findings discussed prompting thoughts to deepen insights.
Embedded in EMS organizational life	5 years	To allow for deeper understanding of everyday EMS reality,	Trust built through relationships developed as part of embedded researcher role enabled the research.