836 IAC 2-14-3 Advanced life support nontransport vehicle specifications

Sec. 3. (a) All advanced life support nontransport vehicles shall meet or exceed the following minimum performance characteristics: (1) The vehicle engine shall be an internal combustion, liquid-cooled engine that meets advanced life support nontransport vehicle chassis manufacturer's standard horsepower/displacement requirements. (2) The fully loaded vehicle shall be capable of a sustained speed of at least sixty-five (65) miles per hour over dry, level, or hard-surfaced roads. (3) The steering system shall be the manufacturer's recommended design and be power assisted. (4) Tires shall meet the manufacturer's standards for the gross vehicle weight of the vehicle. No tire shall display exposed tire cord or have tread depth less than two thirty-seconds (2/32) on back tires and four thirty-seconds (4/32) on front tires spaced equally around the tire and with no visible defects. Retread tires shall not be used on advanced life support nontransport vehicles. (b) All advanced life support nontransport vehicles shall meet or exceed the following minimum specifications for electrical systems: (1) The electrical generating system shall consist of a one hundred five (105) ampere alternator minimum. (2) Lighting shall be designed and located so that no glare is reflected from surrounding areas to the driver's eyes or line of vision, from instrument panel, switch panel, or other areas that may require illumination while the vehicle is in motion. (3) Each advanced life support nontransport vehicle shall have an audible backup warning device that is activated when the advanced life support nontransport vehicle is shifted into reverse. (c) All advanced life support nontransport vehicles shall meet the following requirements for external identification: (1) Warning lights of red or red and white, at the discretion of the owner, and shall conform with Indiana law. All lights on vehicle shall be in working condition. (2) Each advanced life support nontransport vehicle shall display the four (4) numbers of the commission-assigned advanced life support nontransport vehicle certification number. The four (4) numbers, in sequence, shall be placed on each side of the advanced life support nontransport vehicle on the right and left front fenders and on the rear portion of the vehicle. Each number shall be in block letters not less than three (3) inches in height. These numbers shall be displayed in color contrasting, reflective material. The numbers shall be placed on the vehicle within seven (7) days of the receipt of the advanced life support nontransport vehicle certificate. The numbers shall be removed or permanently covered by the provider organization when the advanced life support nontransport vehicle is permanently removed from service by the provider organization. (3) A commission-certified vehicle sticker shall be displayed on all certified advanced life support nontransport vehicles. (d) All windows shall be intact. The vehicle shall have windshield wipers in working condition. (e) Dual, firmly secured, vibrationless rear-view mirrors, one (1) mounted on the left side of the vehicle and one (1) mounted on the right side, shall be included. (f) The driver compartment, at a minimum, shall be equipped with appropriate passenger restraints that are installed in all seating facilities for the driver and the passenger. (g) All advanced life support nontransport vehicles shall meet or exceed the following minimum communication standards: (1) All radios used in emergency medical services vehicles for the purpose of dispatch or tactical communications shall demonstrate and maintain the ability to provide a voice communications linkage, during transmission, with the emergency medical service provider organization's associated base station within the area the emergency medical service provider organization normally serves or proposes to serve. (2) Radio equipment used in emergency medical services vehicles shall be appropriately licensed through the Federal Communications Commission. The maximum power of the transmitter shall be no more than the minimum required for technical operation commensurate with the size of the area to be served and local conditions that affect radio transmission and reception. (3) All emergency medical services vehicles shall be equipped with two-way radios that shall have one (1) channel or talk-group used primarily for dispatch and tactical communications. (4) All nontransport vehicles shall maintain a communication system that shall be available twenty-four (24) hours a day between the paramedic provider organization and the emergency department, or equivalent, of the supervising hospital using UHF (ultrahigh frequency) voice communications. The communications system shall be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. (5) Type and number of sirens shall be at the discretion of the advanced life support nontransport vehicle provider organization and shall conform to Indiana law. (h) All advanced life support nontransport vehicles shall provide an adequate system for heating and window defrosting of the driver compartment. (i) Each provider organization shall ensure that rigid sanitation procedures are in effect at all times. The following sanitation standards apply to all vehicles used for the purpose of providing advanced life support services: (1) The equipment within the vehicle shall be clean and maintained in good working order at all times. (2) Compartments shall be provided within the vehicle for medical supplies and equipment storage. (3) All scheduled medications shall be stored in a locked container within a locked compartment. Medications storage shall be approved in writing by medical director or issuing pharmacy.