Delaware Administrative Code
Title 1 - Authorities, Boards and Commissions
700 - Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission
710 - Ambulance Service Regulations
Section 710-12.0 - BLS Requirements
Universal Citation: 1 DE Admin Code 710-12.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
12.1 BLS Operational Requirements
12.1.1 Roadway
Vehicle Standards
12.1.1.1 All BLS ambulances
shall be registered and licensed in the State by the Delaware Division of Motor
Vehicles. EXCEPTIONS:
12.1.1.1.1 Those
vehicles to which the international registration plan applies.
12.1.1.1.2 Those vehicles properly registered
in some other state.
12.1.1.1.3 All
ambulances shall have a copy of the vehicle registration and copy of the
Commission issued ambulance permit on the ambulance at all times while the unit
is in service on the roadways of the State of Delaware. All vehicles will
display the Commission issued inspection decal on the left bottom corner of the
left rear window of the patient compartment.
12.1.1.2 Vehicles shall have clearly visible
letters on both sides and the rear identifying the name of the organization or
corporation and the vehicle's specific identifier as specified under permit
documentation. The letters shall be at least 3 inches in height.
12.1.1.3 Existing vehicle patient compartment
shall conform with the criteria within the most current United States General
Services Administration federal specifications for the Star of Life Ambulances.
All newly purchased, fabricated, and remounted ambulance components including
ambulance compartments, shall conform to the criteria set forth in the most
current edition of NFPA 1900 Standard for Automotive Ambulances 2019.
12.1.1.4 Any vehicle not previously permitted
in the State of Delaware will be required to conform to the most current
edition of NFPA 1900 Standard.
12.1.2 Transports should be made in a safe
manner as to prevent further injury, and utilize visual and audible warning
devices as appropriate based on the patient's condition and shall meet the
requirements of the State of Delaware standing orders and protocols for
transport of a patient. The highest medically trained practitioner present
shall recommend the appropriate mode of transportation based on the patient's
condition.
12.1.3 Equipment
Standards
12.1.3.1 Every BLS ambulance shall
maintain the required equipment and supplies as specified by the
Commission.
12.1.3.2 Required
equipment shall be reviewed annually with recommendations from the Commission's
designee and the Commission's Medical Director.
12.1.3.1.2 Equipment with an expiration date
cannot be removed from its packaging or have the expiration date removed or
altered.
12.1.3.2
Bariatric Transport
12.1.3.2.1 Ambulances used
for bariatric transport shall have an interior patient compartment size large
enough to comfortably transport the patient and provide room for the attending
crew to perform patient care as needed.
12.1.3.2.2 Ambulances used for bariatric
transport shall have suspensions capable of safely transporting patients
between 350 and 1000 pounds and have a crew assisted loading system such as
ramps, winch, lifting systems or a combination of those.
12.1.3.2.3 Ambulance providers shall have a
written policy for loading and unloading bariatric patients to ensure the
safety of the crew and the patient from injury during the loading and unloading
process.
12.1.3.2.4 Ambulances used
for bariatric transport shall have all the required Commission equipment and
any additional equipment as required by the Commission to give proper patient
care to bariatric patients.
12.1.3.2.5 Stretchers shall be rated at 1000
pounds or greater.
12.1.3.2.6
Ambulance personnel must have knowledge in the extrication, lifting, transport,
and patient care needs for bariatric patients.
12.1.4 Staffing Requirements
12.1.4.1 Minimum acceptable crew staffing
when transporting a patient shall consist of a driver and 1 Delaware State
certified EMT.
12.1.4.2 A minimum
of 1 Delaware State certified EMT or an activated paramedic acting in an ALS
capacity licensed in the State of Delaware shall always be in the patient
compartment when a patient is present.
12.1.4.3 BLS ambulance service drivers are
required to have completed the "Emergency Vehicle Operators" course conducted
by the Delaware State Fire School.
12.1.4.4 BLS ambulance service drivers are
required to maintain current CPR/AED certification, approved by the
Commission.
12.1.4.5 Any member or
employee with a BLS ambulance service provider who has been convicted of or
adjudicated delinquent of crimes set forth in 16 Del.C. §
6647 or any similar offense under
any federal, state, or local law is prohibited from serving as a BLS ambulance
service driver in this State.
12.1.4.5.1 The
BLS ambulance service provider shall certify, on an annual basis, to the
Commission that their members or employees have never been convicted of an
offense that constitutes any of the crimes set forth in 16 Del.C. §
6647 or any similar offense under
any federal, state, or local law.
12.1.5 Quality Assurance. Each BLS ambulance
service provider shall be responsible for monitoring quality assurance in the
form of patient care and both mobilization and response times. The method in
which this is accomplished is the authority and responsibility of the BLS
ambulance service provider per the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program
established by the Commission in conjunction with the OEMS and adopted by the
Commission. Any corrections to a PCR with regard to patient care provided, EMT
impressions, assessed status or narrative found during the Quality Assurance
process or any other review of a PCR shall be returned to the EMT who wrote the
PCR to make corrections. If the EMT is unavailable they may provide written
approval to the supervisor to make corrections on a specified report.
12.1.6 Communications Requirements
12.1.6.1 Dispatch Centers
12.1.6.1.1 Dispatch centers for both BLS
ambulance service providers shall meet the criteria established by the
Commission.
12.1.6.1.2 BLS
ambulance service provider dispatch centers shall be responsible for following
call taking protocols as established by the Commission. Calls determined to be
ALS in nature shall be transferred to the appropriate public safety answering
point (PSAP) within 30 seconds of taking the call utilizing a dedicated phone
line to that PSAP.
12.1.6.1.3 Calls
determined to be BLS in nature shall not be required to be forwarded to the
PSAP.
12.1.6.1.4 Dispatch centers
shall follow an Emergency Medical Dispatch System approved by the
Commission.
12.1.6.2
Ambulances. All BLS ambulances shall be equipped with reliable communication
through the State of Delaware 800 MHz radio system, or have the ability to
interface with Delaware 800 MHz radio systems.
12.1.6.3 Private ambulance providers shall
have radios (portable or mobile) that are programmed with 8CAL90 and 8TAC91,
92, 93, 94 to allow interfacing with Delaware 800 MHZ radio system. Radio
checks of portable and mobile (vehicle mounted) radios shall be conducted at a
minimum of every 4 months. These radio checks shall be coordinated with the
local public safety answering points (PSAP). A log of the radio tests shall be
kept by the provider for inspection by the Commission.
12.1.6.4 Within 3 months of being hired, all
ambulance provider employees shall complete a 1-hour radio course through the
Delaware State Fire School or a Commission approved class. The course shall
include specific instruction on interfacing private provider authorized
channels when requesting medical control and ALS intercept.
12.1.6.5 If vehicle mounted communications
are used, 1 mobile radio unit shall be located within the patient care
compartment of the ambulance and be mounted in such a manner as to allow for
the caregiver to provide patient care and use the radio.
12.1.7 AED Requirements. The primary BLS
ambulance service provider or secondary BLS ambulance service provider shall
comply with the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program administrative policies
as established by the Office of Emergency Medical Services.
12.1.8 Infection Control. All primary BLS
ambulance service providers and secondary BLS ambulance service providers shall
comply with the infection control requirements in Chapter 12A, Title 16 of the
Delaware Code.
12.1.9 Medical
Control. Primary BLS ambulance service providers and secondary BLS ambulance
service providers shall be required to follow all orders issued.
12.1.10 Any certified EMT providing EMT care
within accordance of the most recently adopted State of Delaware BLS standing
orders and protocols may only do so under the direction of a medical control
doctor. EMT's cannot provide care as an EMT outside of medical
control.
12.1.11 Center for
Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS). All primary BLS ambulance service providers
and secondary BLS ambulance service providers shall comply with the Final Rule
in the Federal Register (64 F.R. 3637) revising the Medicare policies for
ambulance services adopted February 24, 1999, or the most current
edition.
12.2.12 All primary BLS
ambulance service providers and secondary BLS ambulance service providers shall
comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA), or the most current version.
12.2 BLS Water Ambulance Operational Standards
12.2.1 All BLS water ambulances
shall be registered and licensed in the State by the Delaware Division of Fish
and Wildlife or have valid marine documents issued by the Coast
Guard.
12.2.2 The vessel shall have
clearly visible Star of Life and letters on both sides identifying the name of
the organization or corporation or the vessel's specific identifier as
specified under permit documentation. The letters shall be at least 3 inches in
height
12.2.3 The vessel shall not
have structural or functional defects that may adversely affect the patient,
the EMS personnel or the safe operation of the vessel.
12.2.4 The vessel shall have a patient care
compartment that:
12.2.4.1 Provides access to
the head, torso, and lower extremities of the patient while providing
sufficient working space to render patient care;
12.2.4.2 Is covered, on all sides including
the top, to protect the patient and EMS personnel from the elements, such as,
but not limited to wind and spray;
12.2.4.3 Has an opening sufficient size to
permit the safe loading and unloading of a person occupying a litter;
12.2.4.4 Is able to secure a patient litter
in the patient compartment of the vessel, must include securing straps for
chest, waist and leg area, and must be secured a minimum of 12 inches off the
floor of the patient care compartment.
12.2.5 Equipment Standards
12.2.5.1 Each BLS water ambulance must carry
all equipment as specified by the U.S.Coast Guard minimum equipment
requirements for motorboats.
12.2.5.2 Every BLS water ambulance is
required to carry all BLS required equipment and supplies as specified by the
Commission.
12.2.5.3 Required
equipment must be reviewed annually following recommendations from the
Commission's designee and the Commission's Medical Director.
12.2.6 Staffing Requirements
12.2.6.1 Minimum acceptable crew staffing
when transporting a patient shall consist of a certified boat operator, 23 Del.
C. §
2221, and 1 Delaware State
Certified EMT or a Paramedic licensed in the State of Delaware.
12.2.6.2 A minimum of one State certified EMT
shall always be in the patient compartment when a patient is present.
12.2.6.3 BLS water ambulance service boat
operators and EMTs are required to have completed the "Boaters Safety
Education" course approved by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and
are required to carry their certification while operating a vessel, set forth
in 23 Del.C. §
2221.
12.2.6.3.1 Exemption for boat operators are
as follows, or in the most current list provided in 23 Del.C. §
2222, which would supersede this
section:
12.2.6.3.1.1 Any person who holds a
valid Coast Guard captain's license; or
12.2.6.3.1.2 Any person who holds a valid
Delaware River and Bay pilot's license, or its equivalent from another
jurisdiction.
12.2.6.4 BLS water ambulance service boat
operators are required to maintain current CPR/AED certification.
12.2.6.5 Any member or employee with a BLS
ambulance service provider who has been convicted of or charged, adjudicated
delinquent of crimes set forth in 16 Del.C. §
6647 or any similar offense under
any federal, state, or local law is prohibited from serving as a BLS water
ambulance service boat operator in this State.
12.2.6.5.1 The BLS water ambulance service
provider shall certify, on an annual basis, to the Commission that their
members or employees have never been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent of
an offense that constitutes any of the crimes set forth in 16 Del.C. §
6647 or any similar offense under
any federal, state, or local law.
12.2.7 Quality Assurance. Each primary and
secondary BLS ambulance service provider shall be responsible for monitoring
quality assurance in the form of patient care and both mobilization and
response times. The method in which this is accomplished is the authority and
responsibility of the primary or secondary water ambulance service provider per
the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program established by the Commission in
conjunction with the Office of Emergency Medical Services and adopted by the
Commission.
12.2.8 Communications
Requirements
12.2.8.1 Dispatch Centers
12.2.8.1.1 Dispatch centers for BLS water
ambulance service providers shall meet the criteria established by the
Commission.
12.2.8.1.2 Secondary
BLS water ambulance service provider dispatch centers shall be responsible for
following call taking protocols as established by the Commission. Calls
determined to be ALS in nature shall be transferred to the appropriate public
safety answering point (PSAP) within 30 seconds of taking the call utilizing a
dedicated phone line to that PSAP.
12.2.8.1.3 Calls determined to be BLS in
nature shall not be required to be forwarded to the PSAP.
12.2.8.1.4 Dispatch centers shall follow an
Emergency Medical Dispatch System approved by the Commission.
12.2.8.2 All BLS water ambulances
dispatched to handle 9-1-1 emergency responses shall be equipped with reliable
communication through the State of Delaware 800 MHz radio system and VHF radio
with the marine frequencies listed in The Handbook of Delaware Boating Laws and
Responsibilities.
12.2.9
AED Requirements. Upon placing an AED on any water ambulance, the BLS ambulance
service providers shall comply with the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program
administrative policies as established by the OEMS.
12.2.10 Infection Control. All BLS ambulance
service providers shall comply with the infection control requirements in 16
Del.C. Ch. 12A.
12.2.11 Medical
Control. BLS ambulance service providers shall be required to follow all orders
issued.
12.2.12 Center for Medicare
Medicaid Services (CMS). All BLS water ambulance service providers shall comply
with the Final Rule in the Federal Register (64 F.R. 3637) revising the
Medicare policies for ambulance services adopted February 24, 1999, or the most
current edition.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Delaware may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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