Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) The interior of the vehicle shall be designed for the safety of patients and crewmembers and the patient compartment shall have the following safety features:
1. There shall be no protruding edges;
2. Exterior corners (corners that point-out) shall be rounded or covered with a padded material;
3. The ceiling shall be finished with a padded material or with a flat, even and unbroken surface;
4. The floor shall have a flat, even, unbroken and impervious surface and shall be covered with a slip resistant material;
5. Any seats with under seat storage shall have a positive latching mechanism that holds the seat closed;
6. All cabinet doors, except a sliding door, shall have a positive latching mechanism that shall hold the door securely closed and shall prevent the contents of the cabinet from pushing the door open from the inside;
7. All equipment and supplies carried on the vehicle shall be stored in a crashworthy manner (that is, they shall remain firmly in place and shall not present a hazard to any vehicle occupant in the event of an accident or sudden change in vehicle speed or direction). There shall be sufficient cabinets and other storage spaces within the vehicle so as to meet this requirement. Crashworthy retention systems shall not incorporate rubber straps, "shock cords" or Velcro[R] type closures.
i. While the vehicle is in motion, all transport device accessories such as IV poles and monitor trays shall be installed per manufacturer's guidelines and utilized per manufacturer's standards and safety recommendations. All equipment shall be secured to these devices while being utilized; and
8. The bench seats in all vehicles manufactured after July 1, 2002 shall have a passive barrier at the forward end of the bench.
(b) Automotive safety belts shall be provided for each vehicle occupant (patient, passenger or crewmember) over eight years of age or under eight years of age but weighing more than 80 pounds and shall meet all State standards, including those set forth at 39:3-76.2 et seq. Each vehicle occupant shall be properly restrained either in an automotive safety belt or on a stretcher, as medically appropriate. All children under eight years of age weighing less than 80 pounds, whether patients or passengers, shall be properly restrained in a Federally-approved child restraint system as provided for at 39:3-76.2a or on a stretcher, as medically appropriate.
1. SCTUs may, but need not, store the child restraint system on board the vehicle when the system is not being utilized. If not stored on the vehicle, the system shall be immediately accessible on the provider's premises.
2. Approved transport capable MICUs shall carry the child restraint system on board the vehicle at all times.
(c) Signs shall appear in both the patient and driver's compartments that clearly indicate that smoking is prohibited anywhere in the vehicle.
