Article II — Definitions

Unless otherwise specifically provided, or required by the context, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this chapter:

"9-1-1 ambulance service" means a private company or a county fire department first responder ALS provider with a contract to provide 9-1-1 emergency ambulance service.

"9-1-1 emergency call" means a 9-1-1 request for an ambulance to transport or assist persons in apparent sudden need of medical attention; or an ambulance transport that is initially classified as a non-emergency call that becomes a 9-1-1 emergency call due to a change in the patient's medical condition; or a medical emergency, as determined by a physician, to transport blood, or any therapeutic device, accessory to such device, or tissue or organ for transplant.

"Advanced life support ambulance service" or "ALS" means the service performed in response to a 9-1-1 emergency call which, due to the patient's medical condition, requires care at the paramedic level of service. This service is provided under contract at a 9-1-1 service level. This includes transportation of a patient, regardless of a presumption of death of the patient, or transportation of a body for the purpose of making an anatomical gift, as provided in Section 12811, Vehicle Code, and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, Health and Safety Code Section 7150 et seq.

"Ambulance" means a ground transportation vehicle certified by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that is specially constructed, modified or equipped and used for the purpose of transporting sick, injured, convalescent, infirm, or otherwise incapacitated persons and staffed with no less than two EMTs. "Ambulance" does not include the transportation of persons in a gurney or wheelchair van as defined in this section.

"Ambulance permit" means the document and/or decal issued by the county for each ambulance conforming to the requirements of these regulations, which is owned or controlled by a person holding a certificate of operation.

"Ambulance provider" means a person, firm, partnership, corporation or other organization, which furnishes or offers to furnish ambulance service.

"Ambulance service" means the activity, business or service, for hire, profit or otherwise, of transporting one or more persons by an ambulance certified by the CHP on or in any of the streets, roads, highways, alleys, or any public way or place in this county.

"Basic life support ambulance service" or "BLS" means the service performed in response to a nonemergency call. Specifically, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures that as a minimum, includes recognizing respiratory and cardiac arrest and starting the proper application of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and CPR to maintain life without invasive techniques until the victim may be transported or until advanced life support is available.

"Certificate of operation" means the document issued by the county to a permittee that has met the requirements to operate an ambulance service in Alameda County. Certificates of operation will be issued for BLS and CCT levels of service.

"County" means the Alameda County emergency medical services district (EMS).

"County communications center" means the county of Alameda emergency operations center (EOC).

"County dispatch" means the county designated public safety answering point dispatch center(s).

"County policies" means the policies and regulations as defined in the county's administrative manual and field manual.

"Critical care transport or "CCT" means any emergency or non-emergency transport of a patient where the skill level required in the care of that patient during transport requires, or may require, care within the CCTparamedic or CCT-RN scope of practice.

"Critical care transport policies" means the policies and regulations as defined in the county's administrative manual and field manual.

"Emergency medical technician," or "EMT," means an individual trained and certified in basic life support care in accordance with the provisions contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2, et seq.

"Emergency medical technician — paramedic," or "EMT-P" or "paramedic" means an individual trained and licensed in advanced life support care in accordance with the provisions contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 4, et seq. and accredited by the county.

"Exclusive operating area" or "EOA" means an EMS area or sub area as defined by the county, which restricts operations to one or more ambulance providers.

"First responder ALS" means a unit staffed and equipped with a minimum of one California state licensed and Alameda County accredited paramedic capable of providing ALS at scenes of medical emergencies.

"Gurney van transport" means any vehicle specially constructed, modified or equipped and/or used for the purpose of transporting patients who cannot travel in an upright, sitting position and for whom the need for any medical care, treatment or procedure is not required, likely, or foreseeable.

"Non-emergency call" means a request for an ambulance to transport or assist persons that would not constitute a 9-1-1 emergency call.

"Paramedic," emergency medical technician — paramedic," or "EMT-P" means an individual trained and licensed in advanced life support care in accordance with the provisions contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 4, et seq. and accredited by the county.

"Permittee" means a person, firm, partnership, corporation or other organization to whom a certificate of operation and ambulance permit(s) have been issued for purposes of operating an ambulance service.

"Personal protective equipment" or "PPE" means the minimum equipment, supplies, and personal protective equipment—per responder—to ensure safety and readiness.

"Special event" means a designated event, including, but not limited to street fairs, concerts, sporting events, contests, or other events that place a grouping or gathering of people in one general locale sufficient in number, or subject to activity that creates the need to have one or more ambulances prepositioned at the event.

"Wheelchair van transport" means any vehicle specially constructed, modified or equipped and/or used for the purpose of transporting patients in wheelchairs for whom the need for any medical care, treatment or procedure is not required, likely, or foreseeable.

(Ord. 2007-48 § 2 (part))

(Ord. No. 2012-25, § 2, 6-26-12)