ASTM F2318

This specification covers rotary wing aircraft involved in patient prehospital emergency medical care and transportation. It outlines the minimum requirements, including personnel, and patient care equipment and supplies, that must be met before the aircraft can be classified as a rotary wing air ambulance unit. This specification describes a suitable rotary wing aircraft, which together with the specified personnel, equipment, and supplies, will provide patient care, at least to national standards for basic life support, throughout the medical mission. It applies to all the medical activities that involve rotary wing air ambulance operation at the basic life support level, including on-scene work and interhospital transfer. Application of this specification will ensure that the air ambulance will be able to provide a well-established level of patient care. The rotary wing basic life support air ambulance shall consist of three components: the rotary wing medical transport vehicle, transport personnel, and patient care equipment and supplies in accordance with this specification. The minimum personnel requirement for the rotary wing basic life support air ambulance shall be the FAA flight crew requirement for the aircraft and for each patient, one qualified air-medical crewmember. All pieces of medical equipment and supplies used in rotary wing operations shall be maintained in accordance with the specified requirements.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers rotary wing aircraft involved in patient prehospital emergency medical care and transportation. It outlines the minimum requirements, including personnel, and patient care equipment and supplies, that must be met before the aircraft can be classified as a rotary wing air ambulance unit.

1.2 The first part of this specification (Sections through ) describes the minimum aircraft configuration and capability, the minimum number of seats for personnel, and the provisions for the minimum medical equipment and supplies for rotary wing basic life support air ambulances.

1.3 The provisions of this specification plus the provisions of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Annex comprise the specification for rotary wing advanced life support air ambulances.(See Section 1 and 1.1 of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Annex for the scope for rotary wing advanced life support air ambulances.)

1.4 The provisions of this specification plus the provisions of the Advanced Life Support Annex, plus the provisions in the Specialized Medical Support (SMS) Annex comprise the specification for rotary wing specialized medical support air ambulances. (See Sections 1 through 1.3 of the Specialized Medical Support (SMS) Annex for the scope for rotary wing specialized medical support air ambulances.)

2. Referenced Documents

D3577 Specification for Rubber Surgical Gloves
D3578 Specification for Rubber Examination Gloves
F1031 Practice for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Basic)
F1118 Specification for National Air Medical Transport Units Resources Catalog
F1149 Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Authority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical Direction of Emergency Medical Services
F1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Services
F1219 Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) to Perform Patient Primary Assessment
F1220 Guide for Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) Telecommunications
F1229 Guide for Establishing the Qualifications, Education, and Training of EMS, Air-Medical Patient Care Providers
F1555 Guide for Characteristics for Extremity Splints
F1556 Guide for Spinal Immobilization and Extrication (Spined) Device Characteristics
F1557 Guide for Full Body Spinal Immobilization Devices (FBSID) Characteristics
F1558 Guide for Characteristics for Adjunct Cervical Spine Immobilization Devices (ACSID)
F1559 Guide for Characteristics for Cervical Spine Immobilization Collar(s) (CSIC)
F920 Specification for Minimum Performance and Safety Requirements for Resuscitators Intended for Use with Humans
F960 Specification for Medical and Surgical Suction and Drainage Systems
MIL-STD-101 Color Coding, Medical Gases
MIL-STD-1472 Human Factors
MIL-STD-202 Test Methods For Electronic and Electric Component Parts
MIL-STD-39226 Compressed Gas Cylinders
MIL-STD-461 Department of Defense Interface Standard, Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment
MIL-STD-704 Aircraft Electric Power Characteristics
MIL-STD-810E Environmental Test Methods and Engineering Guidelines
14 CFR Chapter 1-Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Rules and Regulations, Parts 1-49 and 61-139; specifically, Subpart 135.19-Emergency Operations, and Subpart 135.271-Helicopter Hospital Emergency Medical Evacuation Services
21 CFR Food and Drug Administration-Medical Devices
29 CFR Occupational Safety and Health Administration-Standard 1010.134, Respiratory Protection
29 CFR Occupational Safety and Health Administration-Standard 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens
29 CFR Occupational Safety and Health Administration-Standard 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
AC 135.14 Emergency Medical Services/Helicopter (EMS/H)
AC 43.13-2A Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices, Aircraft Alterations
ANSI Z79.14 Anesthetic Equipment-Tracheal Tubes
ANSI Z79.3 Anesthetic Equipment-Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal Airways
ANSI Z79.6 Breathing Tubes
ANSI/AAMI SP10 Standard for Automated Sphygmomanometers
ANSI/AAMI SP9 Standard for Nonautomated Sphygmomanometers
CGA C-9 Standard for Color-Marking of Compressed Gas Cylinders Intended for Medical Use
CGA E-7 Standard for Flow meters, Pressure Reducing Regulators, regulator/Flow Meter and Regulator/Flow gage Combinations for the Administration of Medical Gases
CGA P-2 Characteristics and Safe Handling of Medical Gases
CGA P-4 Safe Handling of Cylinders by Emergency Rescue Squads
CGA V-1 Compressed Gas Cylinder Valve Outlet and Inlet Connections
CGA V-5 Diameter Index Safety System
CSA Standard Z305.1M Nonflammable Medical Gas Piping Systems
CSA Standard Z305.2M Low Pressure Connecting Assemblies for Medical Gas Systems
CSA Standard Z305.3M Pressure Regulators, Gages and Flow Metering Devices for Medical Gas Systems
DOT Specification RR-C-901/3 Cylinders Compressed Gas: With Valve or Plug and Cap; ICC3aa
FAA Technical Standard Orders C-22g Safety Belts, and C114 Torso Restraint Systems
NFPA 407-8 Aircraft Fuel Servicing, paragraphs 2-4.1
NFPA 56F Standard for Nonflammable Medical Gas Systems
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
NFPA 99 Electrical Safety
SAE Air 825B Oxygen Equipment for Aircraft
SAE AS 1198 Continuous Flow Oxygen Regulator
UL 2601-1 Standard for Safety-Medical Electrical Equipment-Part 1: General Requirements for Safety
USARTL-TR-79-22D Aircraft Crash Survival Design Guide

Index Terms

ICS Number Code 11.160; 49.020

Citing ASTM Standards

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