Section 515.825  Alternate Response Vehicle

a)         Ambulance assistance vehicles

            Ambulance assistance vehicles are dispatched simultaneously with an ambulance and assist with patient care prior to the arrival of the ambulance.  These assistance vehicles include fire engines, trucks, squad cars or chief's cars that contain the staff and equipment required by this Section.  These vehicles shall not function as assist vehicles if staff and equipment required by this Section are not available.  The agency shall identify these vehicles as a program plan amendment outlining the type and level of response that is planned.  The vehicle shall not transport or be a primary response vehicle but a supplementary vehicle to support EMS services.  The vehicle shall be dispatched only if needed.  Ambulance assistance vehicles shall be classified as either:

1)         Advanced ambulance assistance vehicles.  These vehicles shall be staffed with a minimum of one EMT-P and shall have all of the required equipment; or

2)         Intermediate ambulance assistance vehicles.  These vehicles shall be staffed with a minimum of one EMT-I and shall have all of the required equipment; or

3)         Basic ambulance assistance vehicles.  These vehicles shall be staffed with a minimum of one EMT-B and shall have all of the required equipment; or

4)         First Responder assistance vehicles.  These vehicles shall be staffed with a minimum of one First Responder and shall have all of the required equipment.

b)         Non-transport vehicles

            Non-transport vehicles are dispatched prior to dispatch of a transporting ambulance.  These vehicles include ambulances and fire engines that contain the staff and equipment required by this Section.  The vehicle service provider shall identify these vehicles as a program plan amendment outlining the type and level of response that is planned.  These vehicles shall be staffed 24 hours per day, every day of the year.

1)         ALS/ILS non-transport vehicles.  These vehicles shall have a minimum of either one EMT-P, or one EMT-I and one other EMT-B, and shall have all of the required equipment.

2)         BLS non-transport vehicles. These vehicles shall have a minimum of two EMT-Bs and have all of the required equipment.

c)         Equipment requirements

            Each vehicle used as an alternate response vehicle shall meet the following equipment requirements, as determined by the Department by an inspection.

1)         Full portable oxygen cylinder, with a capacity of not less than 350 liters

2)         Dial flowmeter/regulator for 15 liters per minute

3)         Delivery tubes

4)         Adult, child and infant masks

5)         Adult squeeze bag and valve, with adult and child masks

6)         Child squeeze bag and valve, with child, infant and newborn size masks

7)         Airways, oropharyngeal − adult, child and infant (sizes 00-5)

8)         Airways, nasopharyngeal with lubrication (sizes 12-30F)

9)         Manually operated suction device

10)         Triangular bandages or slings

11)         Roller bandages, self-adhering (4" by 5 yds)

12)         Trauma dressings

13)         Sterile gauze pads (4" by 4")

14)         Vaseline gauze (3" by 8")

15)         Bandage shears

16)         Adhesive tape rolls

17)         Blanket

18)         Long backboard

19)         Cervical collars − adult, child and infant

20)         Extremity splints − adult/child, long/short

21)         Adult/child/infant blood pressure cuffs and gauge

22)         Stethoscope

23)         Burn sheet, individually wrapped

24)         Sterile saline or water solution (1,000ml), plastic bottles or bags

25)         Obstetrical kit, sterile − minimum one, pre-packaged with instruments, bulb syringe and cord clamps

26)         Thermal absorbent blanket and head cover, aluminum foil roll or appropriate heat reflective material – minimum one

27)         Cold packs

28)         EMS run reports

29)         Nonporous disposable gloves

30)         Eye/nose/mouth protection or face shields

31)         Flashlight

32)         Equipment to allow reliable communications with hospital

33)         ILS/ALS System-approved equipment

A)        Drug box

B)        Airway equipment, including laryngoscope and assorted blades

C)        Monitor/defibrillator, equipped with pediatric size defibrillation pads or paddles

e)         Registration of non-transport agencies

            Each non-transport provider shall complete and submit to the Department one of the following: the First Responder Provider Initial EMS System Application (Form First 10/97), the Non-Transport Provider EMS System Application (Form NT 5/97), or the Non-Transport Provider Application (Form NT 6/99).

f)          Inspection of non-transport EMS providers

            The Regional EMS Coordinator will perform initial inspections.  Thereafter, non-transport ambulance assist providers shall perform annual self-inspections, using forms provided by the Department, and shall submit the form to the Department upon completion of the inspection.  The Regional EMS Coordinator will perform inspections randomly or as the result of a complaint.

g)         Issuance and renewal of license

            Upon payment of the appropriate fee, qualifying non-transport providers shall be issued a provider license that lists a number for each level of care approved.  Licenses will not be issued for individual non-transport vehicles. Providers shall inform the EMS System and the Department of any modifications to the application, using the System Modification forms (sys-mod).  Licenses will be issued for one year and will be renewed upon completion of the self-inspection.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 20609, effective December 6, 2011)