Code of Maine Rules › 16 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY › 163 - BUREAU OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (MAINE EMS) › Chapter 4 - AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES LICENSES › Section 163-4-15 - Scene Response and Transfer Air Ambulance Vehicle Design Requirements

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1. Maine EMS requires that an aircraft
				licensed by the Board must:
A. Be configured
				to allow medical attendants to have full-body patient view and access, and
				access to equipment and supplies in order to initiate both basic and advanced
				life support emergency procedures;
B. Be designed and configured for patient
				placement that allows for safe crew egress without compromising patient
				stability during loading, unloading or in-flight operations;
C. Be configured to allow operation of the
				aircraft doors from the interior and that the doors be capable of being fully
				opened and held by a mechanical device;
D. Have sufficient space to accommodate at
				least one patient on a stretcher, two medical attendants, and the medical
				equipment required;
E. Be equipped
				with a patient stretcher and patient securing systems/straps capable of
				accommodating adult and pediatric patients. The stretcher must be designed to
				support effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or a backboard or
				equivalent device to achieve CPR must be readily available;
1. Patients under 60 pounds (27 kg.) shall be
				provided with an appropriately sized restraining device (for patient's height
				and weight) which is further secured by a locking device;
2. All patients under 40 lbs. must be secured
				in a five-point safety strap device that allows good access to the patients
				from all sides and permits the patient's head to be raised at least 30
				degrees;
3. There must be some type
				of restraining device within an isolette to protect the patient in the event of
				air turbulence and the isolette must be capable of being opened from its
				secured position in order to provide full access to the infant in the event of
				complicated airway problems or extrication from the isolette becomes necessary;
4. There shall be access and
				necessary space to ensure any on-board patient's airway is maintained and to
				provide adequate ventilatory support from the secured, seat-belted position of
				medical transport personnel.
F. Be equipped with safety belts and securing
				restraints adequate to stabilize and secure any patient, medical attendants,
				and equipment. Medical attendants must be able to wear seat belts while having
				access to the patient's head and upper body;
G. Be large enough to accommodate loading of
				a stretcher without rotating it more than 30 degrees about the longitudinal
				axis or 45 degrees about the lateral axis of the patient and does not
				compromise functioning of monitoring systems, intravenous lines and manual or
				mechanical ventilation;
H. Be
				equipped with climate controls capable of preventing adverse effects on
				patients or medical personnel on board;
I. Be configured so that operational controls
				and communications equipment are protected from intended or accidental
				interference by the patient, medical transport personnel, medical equipment or
				medical supplies;
J. Be designed
				and configured so that the head-strike envelope for the patient and medical
				attendants is clear of objects or surfaces that could cause injury in the event
				of air turbulence or sudden hard landing. Medical crews in rotorcraft must wear
				helmets.
K. Be pressurized if an
				altitude is to be flown which would otherwise compromise the patient's
				condition.
L. Be equipped with an
				oxygen system with adequate capacity and available oxygen for every mission.
				Oxygen tanks must be secured to prevent movement. No oxygen tank may be secured
				on the area of the stretcher designed for patient placement.
1. Medical transport personnel will be able
				to determine if oxygen is "on" by in-line pressure gauges mounted in the
				patient care area indicating quantity of oxygen remaining and measurement of
				liter flow;
2. Each gas outlet will
				be clearly marked for identification, and oxygen flow can be stopped at or near
				the oxygen source from inside the aircraft or ambulance;
3. Oxygen flow meters and outlets must be
				padded, flush mounted, or so located to prevent injury to medical transport
				personnel;
4. There must be a
				back-up source of oxygen (of sufficient quantity to get safely to a facility
				for replacements) in the event the main system fails. This back-up source can
				be the required portable tank as long as the portable tank is accessible in the
				patient care area during flight and must be located and. Under no circumstances
				will a portable tank be located between the patient's legs.
M. Be designed so that
				hangers/hooks are available to secure IV solutions, or a mechanism is provided
				for delivery of high flow fluids. IV hooks must be padded, flush mounted, or so
				located to prevent head trauma to the medical transport personnel in the event
				of a hard landing in the aircraft;
N. Be designed so that medications, medical
				supplies and equipment - consistent with the service's scope of care and
				necessary for patient medical care - are accessible to the flight medical crew
				while they are secured in seatbelts;
O. Be designed so that the cardiac monitor,
				defibrillator and external pacemaker displays are visible and that the
				equipment is secured and positioned to provide easy access by the flight
				medical crew while they are secured in seatbelts. Extra batteries or other
				power source must be available;
P.
				Be designed and configured so that the service's mission and ability to
				transport two or more patients does not compromise the airway or stabilization
				or the ability to perform emergency procedures on any on-board patient, and be
				designed to provide access for simultaneous airway management if there is a
				two-patient configuration;
Q. Be
				designed so that the floor, sides and ceiling in the patient compartment have a
				surface capable of being cleaned and disinfected in accordance with
				Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
R. Have overhead illumination at the patient
				level sufficient for patient care.
S. Carry radios capable of communicating:
				with all Maine hospitals which may be over flown; Maine EMS Statewide frequency
				155.385; with the flight service dispatch; and with personnel on the ground if
				scene pickups are routinely conducted. Headset equipment for pilot/medical crew
				communication is required if such communication would not otherwise be
				possible.
T. Be capable of
				communications utilizing the designated Maine EMS statewide frequency
				"155.385".
U. Be equipped with an
				electrical power source(s) that will accommodate commonly carried medical
				equipment (AC or DC powered) without compromising the operation of any aircraft
				electrical equipment and that is not dependent upon a portable
				battery.
V. Be configured and
				equipped so as to prevent interference with medical systems.
W. Be equipped with a suction aspirator that
				must be powered by the aircraft's electrical or engine-vacuum system and that
				must be capable of providing a free air flow of at least 20 lpm and achieving a
				minimum of 300 mm. Hg within 4 seconds after the suction tube is
				closed.