Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 15 - Mississippi Department of Health › Part 12 - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services › Subpart 31 - Emergency Medical Services › Chapter 3 - AERO MEDICAL SERVICES › Subchapter 9 - Medical Equipment and Supplies › Rule 15-12-31-3.9.2

Current through June 25, 2024
Medical Equipment for All Levels of Care Shall
						Include:
1. STRETCHER - The
					 aircraft/ambulance design and configuration must not compromise patient
					 stability in loading, unloading or in-flight operations. There shall be 1 or
					 more stretcher(s) installed in the aircraft cabin which meets the following
					 criteria:
a. The stretcher must be large
					 enough to carry the 95th percentile adult patient, full length in the supine
					 position. (Estimated 95th percentile adult American male is 6 ft. and 232 lbs.
					 and may differ internationally.) Patients under 40 pounds must be provided with
					 an appropriately sized restraining device (for patient's height and weight),
					 which is further secured by a locking device. All patients from 10 to 40 pounds
					 must be secured in a five-point safety strap device that allows good access to
					 the patient from all sides and permits the patient's head to be raised at least
					 30 degrees. For infants up to 10 pounds, a baby pod or commercial equivalent
					 may be used.
b. Shall have at least
					 two shoulder harnesses and three cross-body patient restraining straps, one of
					 which secures the chest area and the other about the area of the knee and thigh
					 area.
c. The stretcher shall be
					 installed in the aircraft cabin so that it is sufficiently isolated by distance
					 or physical barrier from the cockpit so that the patient cannot reach the
					 cockpit crew from a supine or prone position on the stretcher.
d. Attachment points of the stretcher to the
					 aircraft, the stretcher itself, and the straps securing the patient to the
					 stretcher, shall meet FAR restraint requirements.
e. The aircraft must have an entry that
					 allows loading and unloading without excessive maneuvering (no more than 45
					 degrees about the lateral axis and 30 degrees about the longitudinal axis) of
					 the patient, and does not compromise functioning of monitoring systems,
					 intravenous lines, and manual or mechanical ventilation.
f. The stretcher shall be positioned in the
					 cabin to allow the air medical personnel clear view of the patient's
					 body.
g. Air medical personnel
					 shall always have access to the patient's head and upper body for airway
					 control procedures as well as sufficient space over the area where the
					 patient's chest is to adequately perform chest compressions on the patient.
Note: The licensee may be required to demonstrate to the licensing
					 authority that airway control procedures and cardiac compressions/abdominal
					 thrusts can be adequately performed on a training manikin in any of its
					 aircraft.
h. The stretcher
					 mattress must be sealed to prevent absorption of blood and other body fluids,
					 easily cleanable and disinfected according to OSHA blood borne pathogens
					 requirements.
i. The stretcher must
					 be sturdy and rigid enough that it can support cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
					 If a backboard or equivalent device is required to achieve this, such device
					 will be readily available.
j. A
					 supply of linen for each patient.