NAC450B.570. Air ambulance: Design, equipment and supplies.

     1. To be used as an air ambulance, an aircraft, whether a fixed- or rotary-wing type, must, in addition to meeting other requirements set forth in this chapter:

     (a) Be designed and maintained in a safe and sanitary condition;

     (b) Have sufficient space for storage of equipment and supplies which may be locked against unauthorized entry;

     (c) Be designed to accommodate at least one stretcher;

     (d) Have a door of sufficient size to allow a stretcher to be loaded without rotating it more than 30 degrees about the longitudinal axis or 30 degrees about the lateral axis; and

     (e) Have the climate controlled in the cabin of the aircraft to prevent extremes in temperature that would adversely affect the care of a patient.

     2. The stretcher or litter must:

     (a) Be positioned in the aircraft so as to allow the attendant a clear view of and access to any part of the patient’s body that may require attention. The attendant must always have access to the patient’s head and upper body.

     (b) Be of sufficient size to carry full length and in the supine position a person whose height is at least equal to the 95th percentile of all adult patients in the United States.

     (c) Have a rigid surface suitable for performing cardiac compressions.

     (d) Be constructed of material that may be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

     (e) Have a mattress or pad that is impervious to liquids.

     (f) Be capable of elevating the head of the patient to a 45-degree angle from the base.

     3. Each air ambulance must, when in use as such:

     (a) Have an electrical system capable of servicing the power needs of all equipment for patient care carried on board the aircraft. The electricity may be supplied by the electrical system of the aircraft or by a portable source carried in the aircraft. Any modification to the electrical system on the aircraft must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

     (b) Have adequate interior lighting, so that patient care can be given and patient status monitored without interfering with the vision of the pilot.

     (c) Have adequate tie-down fixtures within the aircraft for securing any additional equipment as necessary.

     (d) Have a system for air-to-ground communications that provides for the exchange of information internally among the crew and provides for air-to-ground exchange of information between members of the crew and agencies appropriate to the mission, including, but not limited to:

          (1) The physician or registered nurse who is providing instructions of medical care.

          (2) The air traffic control center.

          (3) The dispatch center.

          (4) If the air ambulance is used to transport patients, a law enforcement agency.

     (e) Be equipped with:

          (1) Survival equipment appropriate for mountain, desert and water environments.

          (2) A fire extinguisher that is accessible to the pilot and any medical personnel in the air ambulance.

     4. A fixed-wing aircraft must not be operated as an air ambulance unless it is capable of pressurizing the cabin and has:

     (a) Two or more engines; or

     (b) A single turbine engine.

     5. The installation of any equipment in a fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft must be in a manner consistent with any applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and must receive the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration.

     6. Any fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft that is used as an air ambulance must carry the equipment and supplies specified for that aircraft set forth in a written inventory that is prepared by the Health Division and approved by the board.

     [Bd. of Health, Ambulance Reg. §§ 10.001-10.003, eff. 12-3-73; A and renumbered as §§ 10.1-10.4.2, 2-28-80]—(NAC A 10-14-82; 5-18-92; R182-01, 3-5-2002)