West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 64 - Health › Title 64 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES › Series 64-48 - Emergency Medical Services › Section 64-48-5 - Vehicles

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
5.1. General
				Requirements.
5.1.1. Unless specified
				differently herein, ground ambulances must meet applicable U.S. Government
				Services Agency or subsequent federally approved specifications at the time of
				the vehicle's manufacture.
5.1.2.
				Each EMS vehicle must be maintained in good repair and operating condition and
				shall have a current state inspection if required by the state issuing the
				vehicle license.
5.1.3. EMS
				vehicles may not be maintained or operated except by a licensed EMS agency.
				United States government EMS vehicles are exempt from this
				requirement.
5.1.4. The EMS agency
				may exercise emergency operating privileges, including the use of audible and
				visible emergency warning devices, only during response to the location of an
				emergency call, while at the location, and during transportation of a patient.
				Operation of these devices must be in compliance with the W. Va. Code §
										17C-2-5.
5.1.5. All operators of ground EMS vehicles
				shall meet the requirements of paragraphs 6.7.1.i, 6.7.1.j., and 6.7.1.k. of
				this rule, in addition to minimum standards established for the individual's
				level of certification.
5.1.6.
				Sanitation. -- The following requirements for sanitary conditions apply to all
				EMS vehicles:
5.1.6.a. The interior of EMS
				vehicles, including all storage areas, linens, equipment, and supplies must be
				clean and sanitary;
5.1.6.b.
				Freshly laundered linen or disposable sheets and pillowcases must be used
				during the transporting of patients and shall be changed after each
				use;
5.1.6.c. Pillows and
				mattresses used in EMS vehicles must be clean and in good repair;
5.1.6.d. Plastic bags, covered containers or
				compartments must be used for the storage of soiled supplies and used
				disposable items. Biohazard bags clearly marked with the biohazard symbol shall
				be used for infectious waste;
5.1.6.e. Exterior surfaces must be
				clean;
5.1.6.f. Blankets used in
				EMS vehicles must be clean and replaced after use;
5.1.6.g. Single use devices or supplies must
				be stored in a sterile manner and appropriately disposed of after use. Reusable
				items must be sterilized in accordance with current medical
				practices;
5.1.6.h. Waterless
				antibacterial hand cleaner must be available on each EMS vehicle;
5.1.6.i. A bleach or disinfectant solution,
				approved by the United States Centers for Disease Control, must be available on
				EMS vehicles for cleaning purposes;
5.1.6.j. A disposal container for used sharp
				items must be available on each EMS vehicle; and
5.1.6.k. The EMS agency shall ensure that,
				when EMS vehicles are used to transport a patient with an infectious disease,
				all interior contact surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected prior to being
				occupied by another patient.
5.1.7. Equipment and Supplies. -- The EMS
				agency shall ensure that each EMS vehicle has all required equipment and
				supplies necessary for the level of service being provided while enroute to an
				incident, at the scene and during transport of a patient.
5.1.7.a. The EMS agency shall ensure that
				vehicle equipment is maintained in good working operation at all
				times.
5.1.7.b. The EMS agency
				shall ensure that supplies are restocked as necessary to maintain the minimum
				requirements during each response.
5.1.8. The operator's compartment must
				accommodate safe operation of the EMS vehicle.
5.1.9. Safety belts must be available and
				operational for all seat positions in EMS vehicles, no shoulder harness-type
				restraints are allowed on side-facing seat positions.
5.1.10. All EMS vehicles must have a lockable
				storage compartment for medications in accordance with federal Drug Enforcement
				Administration regulations.
5.1.11.
				Exterior Vehicle Marking Requirements:
5.1.11.a. All ground ambulances purchased on
				or after July 1, 2018, shall be consistent with 2017 reflective marking
				standards published by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services
				(CAAS).
5.1.11.b. An EMS vehicle
				may only be lettered with the terms "Paramedic," "Advanced Life Support,"
				"Critical Care Transport," or similar service-level designations when the
				vehicle is licensed by the OEMS for that level of service.
5.1.11.c. The public access emergency
				telephone number
				9-1-1 must be
				displayed on the ambulance. Specialized Multi-Patient Medical Transport (SMPMT)
				and non-public access EMS vehicles may display a different number.
5.1.11.d. Emergency warning lights must be
				visible from all four sides of the vehicle.
5.1.11.e. One or more audible warning devices
				must be installed to provide adequate audible warning.
5.1.11.f. All EMS vehicles must have
				communications equipment which provides voice communication between the vehicle
				and its dispatch center, other EMS vehicles of the same EMS agency, and medical
				command. Communication equipment must be operational and compatible with the
				EMS communication system and comply with state and federal rules, regulations,
				policies, and protocols.
5.1.12. Inspection. -- All EMS vehicles are
				subject to inspection by the Commissioner for compliance with this rule at any
				time and without prior notification. This inspection is in addition to other
				inspections required for EMS vehicles by federal, state, or local law, rules,
				and regulations.