Napa County Municipal Code Art. II Definitions

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

"Advanced Life Support" or "ALS" means special services designed to provide definitive prehospital emergency medical care, including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, advanced airway management, intravenous therapy, administration of specified drugs and other medicinal preparations, and other specified techniques and procedures administered by authorized personnel under the direct supervision of a base hospital as part of a local EMS system at the scene of an emergency, during transport to an acute care hospital, during interfacility transfer, and while in the emergency department of an acute care hospital until responsibility is assumed by the emergency or other medical staff of that hospital.

"Advanced Emergency Medical Technician—Advanced," or "AEMT-A" or "Advanced EMT II" means an individual trained and accredited in limited advanced life support care in accordance with the provisions contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 3, et seq. and accredited by the LEMSA.

"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 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). "Ambulance" does not include the transportation of persons in a Litter Van or Wheelchair Van as defined in this section.

"Ambulance Permit" means the authorization issued by LEMSA, including all documents and/or decals for each ambulance conforming to the requirements of these regulations, which is owned or controlled by a person holding a Certificate of Operation indicating the county's approval for the permittee to operate at the assigned level and scope within the county.

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

"Ambulance service" means the transportation of any person for monetary or other consideration in an ambulance certified by the CHP.

"Basic Life Support" or "BLS" means emergency first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures which, as a minimum, include recognizing respiratory and cardiac arrest and starting the proper application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to maintain life without invasive techniques until the victim may be transported or until ALS 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 Napa County. Certificates of Operation will be issued for ALS, BLS and CCT levels of service.

"County Dispatch" means the county designated Public Safety Answering Point dispatch center(s).

"County policies" means the policies and regulations as defined in the LEMSA Administrative Policy and Field Treatment Guideline Manual.

"Critical Care Transport" or "CCT" means any transport of a patient where the skill level required in the care of that patient during transport exceeds the basic life support, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and paramedic level and scope of training.

"Emergency call" means a 9-1-1 or other emergency 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 an 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.

"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 accredited 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 LEMSA.

"EMS Communications Center" means the county designated ambulance dispatch center.

"Exclusive Operating Area" or "EOA" means an EMS area or sub area as defined by the LEMSA, which restricts operations to one or more ambulance providers in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 1797.224.

"First Responder ALS" means a unit staffed and equipped with a minimum of one California State licensed and LEMSA accredited paramedic capable of providing ALS at scenes of medical emergencies.

"Litter Van Transport" means a vehicle which is modified, equipped and used for the purpose of providing nonemergency medical transportation for those patients with stable medical conditions who require the use of a litter or gurney and which is not routinely equipped with the medical equipment or personnel required for the specialized care provided in an ambulance.

"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 LEMSA.

"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 as required by the LEMSA Administrative Policy and Field Treatment Guideline Manual.

"Public Safety First Aid," or "PSFA" means an individual trained in basic life support care in accordance with the provisions contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 1.5, et seq.

"Special event" means any activity or situation, 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 or participating in a regional event sufficient in number, or subject to activity that creates the need to have on-site EMS services which may include one or more ambulances pre-positioned at the event.

"Surge Ambulance" means any ambulance, housed in and staffed by local fire departments utilized to supplement the EMS system during times of high call volume.

"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. No. 1464, § 1, 12-8-2020)