The following words and phrases are defined as follows for the
purpose of this article:
A vehicle for emergency care which provides a driver compartment
and a patient compartment to accommodate two (2) emergency medical
technicians and two (2) litter patients so positioned that at least
one patient can be given intensive life support during transit; which
carries equipment and supplies for optimal emergency care at the scene
as well as during transport, for two-way radio communication, for
safeguarding personnel and patients under hazardous conditions and
for light rescue procedures; and which is designed and constructed
to afford maximum safety and comfort, and to avoid aggravation of
the patient’s condition, exposure to complications and threat
to survival. “Primary units” are emergency ambulances
in first line use and “backup units” are reserve units
to be used in case all primary units are in use. Backup units shall
meet the standards and be equipped in the same manner as primary units.
The person, partnership or corporation holding a city emergency
ambulance permit.
A vehicle meeting the requirements of a “basic life
support emergency medical services vehicle” under the rules
of the department of state health services and which vehicle shall
be used to transport patients under a physician’s care, from
one medical facility to another medical facility, from a medical facility
to a private residence, or from a private residence to a medical facility
under conditions which do not ordinarily constitute emergency circumstances
as that term is defined in this article.
Trained and qualified EMT graduate responsible for the operation
of an ambulance and the care of the patients whether or not the attendant
also serves as a driver. He shall be certified by the department of
state health services within sixty (60) days after employment.
A person who is qualified as an attendant and a driver. “Driver”
means an individual who drives an ambulance.
A city emergency ambulance attendant’s permit.
A request for emergency ambulance service made by telephone
or other means directly to the holder of an emergency ambulance permit,
his agents or employees.
A city emergency ambulance driver’s permit.
The existence of circumstances in which the element of time
in giving emergency medical care and transporting the sick or injured
for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of such person.
This shall include the emergency ambulance trip to the place
of emergency, the rendering of first aid and assistance and the trip
to the hospital.
This includes emergency first aid and emergency rescue type
service by nonprofit organizations when the injured or ill are not
conveyed in the first aid or rescue vehicle.
A city emergency ambulance operator’s license.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-31; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-126; Ordinance 8525, sec. 1, adopted 1/26/1984; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1,
adopted 11/16/2011)
(a)
Any person violating, or failing to comply with, any provision of
this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars
($100.00).
(b)
Each day that any violation of, or failure to comply with, this article
is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate
and distinct offense under this section and shall be punishable as
such hereunder; provided, however, that the court may, in appropriate
cases, stay the cumulation of penalties.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-55; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-127; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
It is the intent of this article that the citizens of the city
shall at all times have adequate and necessary ambulance service,
and to this end the chief of police is authorized to generally supervise
and enforce this article and prescribe recommendations to the city
council from time to time in order to insure that the operators of
ambulances or ambulance services hereunder shall be able to render
such public service.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-50; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-128; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
An emergency ambulance operator’s license shall keep a
daily manifest for each vehicle upon which shall be recorded the date,
time of day, response time, place of origin, destination and charges
for each trip made by such vehicle. Such records shall be kept and
maintained in a permanent file and made available for inspection at
reasonable hours by the chief of police.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-51; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-129; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
Each operator shall furnish to the city manager a full, complete and composite quarterly report in writing showing its operations during the preceding three (3) months for the emergency ambulance service. This shall include the emergency vehicle records referred to in section 24.08.004. Such report shall be due twenty (20) days after the end of each ninety (90) days of operation. The reports shall include accurate information relating to revenues, expenses, the status of delinquent and uncollectable accounts and call statistics including date, time of day, response time, emergency location and any other data deemed necessary by the city manager so that the city will have sufficient financial and operational information. Each operator shall keep detailed and completely separate books, records and operating statistics of the emergency ambulance operations, excluding any and all other business enterprises in which the operator may be engaged, which will be subject during reasonable business hours to examination and audit by the city. Each operator shall continuously revise and update its forms and improve time taking measures of calls, dispatching and the like so as to constantly improve its operations.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-54; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-134; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
Any subsequent changes in approved rates, charges and/or fees
shall be submitted by a licensee to the city council for approval.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-40; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-135; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
No emergency ambulance shall be operated on the public streets
of the city unless it complies with the following requirements:
(1)
Each ambulance shall, at all times when in use as such:
(A)
Be suitable for the transportation of patients from the standpoint
of health, sanitation and safety, and be maintained in suitable premises;
(B)
Contain equipment and supplies conforming with the standards, requirements
and regulations provided for in this article, which equipment shall
be in proper and good condition for such use;
(C)
Ambulances shall meet the standards for ambulances recommended by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Publication
No. 1071-C-3 entitled “Medical Requirements for Ambulance Design
and Equipment,” said publication being hereby incorporated by
reference as a part of this article as if fully copied herein in detail,
a copy of which publication shall be filed as part of the city secretary’s
records;
(D)
Be equipped with a two-way radio which transmits and receives on
frequencies designated for use by the Federal Communications Commission
between each vehicle and the operator’s base station. Radio
communication to and from such ambulances shall be the sole responsibility
and expense of the operator who shall dispatch emergency vehicles
in coordination with and by the knowledge and approval of the police
dispatcher. In addition, a two-way radio complying with FCC rules
and regulations or its equivalent, shall be installed by the operator
for communications between each vehicle and the police dispatcher.
Each ambulance vehicle shall further have capability to communicate
with hospitals and other emergency services from ambulance units.
The operator shall provide at its expense straight line telephone
connection to the police department, which shall be manned twenty-four
(24) hours per day every day.
(2)
The emergency ambulance has no serious impairment of any safety feature
resulting from an accident or otherwise.
(3)
The emergency ambulance is equipped with the following:
(A)
First aid supplies as recommended by the department of state health
services for ambulance licensing.
(B)
In addition to necessary equipment and supplies for emergency ambulances
as recommended by the department of state health services and the
city health department, all emergency ambulances shall further contain
necessary supplies and equipment for emergency medical trained personnel,
including but not limited to “Essential Equipment for Ambulances”
as recommended by the Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons,
which recommendation is hereby adopted.
(5)
A schedule of the approved rates, charges and fees posted in a conspicuous
place within the ambulance.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-41; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-130; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
The driver of any ambulance, when on an emergency run, may use
red lights, horns and sirens and may proceed in the manner and at
the speed provided for in this code and the state laws, but shall
not be granted any further privileges hereunder.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-46; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-131; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any licensed operator to respond to a direct
call without first having called the police emergency dispatcher immediately
upon receipt of such direct call, giving the location of the patient
and having received clearance from said dispatcher to make said emergency
call.
(b)
On notification of a direct emergency call, the police emergency
dispatcher shall authorize and direct the licensed operator to make
said call and shall inform all persons subsequently reporting said
call that the emergency call is already being responded to by the
assigned licensed operator, provided, in cases where additional ambulances
are needed, the emergency dispatcher shall authorize the making of
such calls by such other operators as are needed.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-52; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-132; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
The operator on an emergency call shall carry the patient to
the hospital selected by the patient or his family. In the event no
preference is indicated or cannot immediately be made, the patient
shall be carried to the nearest hospital with facilities capable of
treating the patient’s injury or illness. Violation of this
section will be grounds for suspension of an operator’s license.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-53; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-133; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
