[Code 1964, § 24-13(a), (c), (d)]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Any vehicle equipped for the care of and used in the transportation
of wounded, sick, injured or infirm people.
Any person employed to accompany an ambulance driver to care
for a patient.
The county health department or other agency designated by
the mayor for the purposes of this chapter.
Any person who is employed to drive an ambulance.
[Code 1964, § 24-13(e)]
This chapter does not apply to:
(1)
Ambulances owned and exclusively controlled by any federal, state,
county or other governmental agency.
(2)
Any vehicle other than an ambulance used in the transportation of
a convalescent from hospital to home or from home to outpatient clinics.
(3)
Any vehicle other than an ambulance used in the transportation of
the infirm or crippled to and from any place offering rehabilatory
therapy.
(4)
Any vehicle other than an ambulance owned or operated by a physician,
resident intern or registered nurse used in the transportation of
patients.
(5)
Any ambulance or other vehicle used for the transportation of patients
from a point of origination outside the corporate boundaries of the
city to a destination within the corporate boundaries of the city.
[Code 1964, § 24-30]
Violation of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in section 2-1-7.
[Code 1964, § 24-31]
The holder of any ambulance license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be responsible for any violation of any section of this chapter by any of the attendants or drivers for the licenseholder, and the owner's ambulance license may be suspended or revoked. In addition, the ambulance owner, when the owner's drivers or attendants violate any provision of this article, except section 2-3-8, shall be subject to the penalties provided for in section 2-3-3.
[Code 1964, § 24-27]
Any licensed owner of an ambulance may apply to the chief of
police for listing on a rotation call list. The number of ambulances
on the list shall be at the discretion of the chief and licensees
may be removed from the list at any time for cause by the chief of
police.
[Code 1964, § 24-28]
No ambulance licensee shall intercept or respond to any telephone,
radio or other communication or call made for ambulance service of
an emergency nature unless the call shall originate from an official
police call or from the injured or sick person or from the person's
authorized representative. The presence of any ambulance at the scene
of any emergency call without the authorization required in this section
shall be cause for suspension or removal from the rotation list at
the discretion of the commissioner of public safety, pending investigation.
[Code 1964, § 24-14]
On all calls the duly qualified ambulance driver shall be accompanied
by an attendant duly licensed by the commissioner of public safety.
[Code 1964, § 24-25]
Every person operating or driving an ambulance in the city shall
at all times in the operation of the ambulance comply with all existing
provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic Law regulating the operation
and movement of authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in sections
101 and 1104 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, when responding to an
emergency call and shall be subject to the conditions stated in the
Vehicle and Traffic Law. No ambulance shall be operated at a speed
in excess of 35 miles per hour on the streets of the city. Unnecessary
and prolonged use of sirens other than as provided for in the Vehicle
and Traffic Law is prohibited and may be cause for removal from the
rotation list and/or suspension of license.
[Code 1964, § 24-24]
Each ambulance shall be equipped and maintained as follows:
(1)
Bedding, linens. All sheets, pillow cases and towels used in the
care of a patient in any ambulance shall be replaced with clean sheets,
pillow cases and towels after each time the ambulance is used for
the transportation of a wounded, sick, injured or infirm person and
all blankets used in the ambulance shall be thoroughly laundered according
to procedures established by the department of health.
(2)
Required equipment. Minimum requirements to be carried by ambulances
are as follows:
a.
Oxygen tank with three sizes of masks, i.e., large, medium and small,
that are plastic disposal. Oxygen apparatus face masks shall not be
used by more than one person and must be destroyed after such use.
b.
Splints for fractures, approved by the American Red Cross.
c.
Sterile dressings.
d.
Control of hemorrhage by tourniquets and pressure.
e.
Emergency stretcher.
(3)
Cleansing. After any ambulance has been used for the transportation
of any person known to have an infectious disease, the ambulance and
its contents shall immediately be cleaned in a manner approved by
the department of health and the ambulance shall not again be used
until it has been so cleaned. Each ambulance shall be cleaned with
a disinfectant solution daily according to procedures established
by the department of health.
[Code 1964, § 24-26]
Ambulance drivers and attendants shall comply with the request
of the patient or relatives for removal to a hospital of the patient's
choice. No person in charge of an ambulance shall refuse to take a
wounded, ill, infirm or injured person to a hospital after the need
for hospitalization has been determined by a physician or if a request
is made by the bureau of police or the bureau of fire. When a person
is found ill, wounded, infirm or injured in the street or any public
place, however seriously, the person shall not be left in that location
but shall be removed to a hospital. In all emergency cases or accidents,
the police officer in charge shall advise the attendant or driver
of the hospital to which the patient is to be transported, and the
police officer's order shall be strictly adhered to unless a
hospital is designated by the patient, the patient's relative
or the doctor of the patient's choice.
[Code 1964, § 24-32]
Each holder of an ambulance license shall keep a record open
to inspection by the public, by the department of health or by the
department of public safety which shall show all of the following:
