ASTM F2318-15

Standard Specification for Rotary Wing Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, and Specialized Medical Support Air Ambulances (Withdrawn 2024)

ABSTRACT
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.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification pertains to fixed (airplanes) and rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft used for prehospital emergency medical care and transportation of patients by air, collectively air ambulances. It outlines the minimum requirements, including personnel, patient care equipment, and supplies that shall be met before the aircraft can be classified as an air ambulance.  
1.2 Recommendations for basic life support (BLS) air ambulances are contained in the first part of this specification that defines the minimum requirements for aircraft configuration and capability, the minimum number of seats for personnel, and the minimum medical equipment and supplies.  
1.3 Recommendations for advanced life support (ALS) air ambulances include the first part of this specification that defines the minimum requirements for aircraft configuration and capability, the minimum number of seats for personnel, and the minimum medical equipment and supplies. Additional requirements for ALS are found in Annex A1.  
1.4 Recommendations for specialized medical support (SMS) air ambulances include those for BLS and may include some or all of the ALS requirements that define the minimum requirements for aircraft configuration and capability, the minimum number of seats for personnel, and the minimum medical equipment and supplies. Additional requirements for SMS air ambulances are found in Annex A2.  
1.5 In this specification, minimum requirements for air ambulances providers are identified, however, ambulance services, under the direction of their medical director, are encouraged to use them as a core list and adjust their configuration or manifest or both according to their mission profile and patient population.  
1.6 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This specification pertained to fixed (airplanes) and rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft used for prehospital emergency medical care and transportation of patients by air, collectively air ambulances.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee F30 o...

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2015
• Withdrawal Date: 02-Jan-2024
• ICS: 11.160 - First aid
• ICS: 49.020 - Aircraft and space vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: F30 - Emergency Medical Services
• Drafting Committee: F30.01 - EMS Equipment

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1229-01(2016) - Standard Guide for Qualification and Training of EMS Air Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2016
• Refers: ASTM F1229-01(2012) - Standard Guide for Qualification and Training of EMS Air Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Refers: ASTM F1149-93(2008) - Standard Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Authority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical Direction of Emergency Medical Services
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2008
• Refers: ASTM F1229-01(2006) - Standard Guide for the Qualification and Training of EMS Air-Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2006
• Refers: ASTM F1149-93(2003) - Standard Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Authority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical Direction of Emergency Medical Services
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2003
• Refers: ASTM F1229-01 - Standard Guide for the Qualification and Training of EMS Air-Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Refers: ASTM F1229-00 - Standard Guide for the Qualification and Training of EMS Air-Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Refers: ASTM F1149-93(1998) - Standard Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Authority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical Direction of Emergency Medical Services
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2318 − 15
Standard Specification for
Rotary Wing Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support,
1
and Specialized Medical Support Air Ambulances
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2318; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
1.1 This specification pertains to fixed (airplanes) and
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft used for prehospital emer-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
gency medical care and transportation of patients by air,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
collectively air ambulances. It outlines the minimum
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
requirements, including personnel, patient care equipment, and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
supplies that shall be met before the aircraft can be classified as
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
an air ambulance.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2 Recommendations for basic life support (BLS) air
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ambulances are contained in the first part of this specification
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
that defines the minimum requirements for aircraft configura-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
tion and capability, the minimum number of seats for
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
personnel, and the minimum medical equipment and supplies.
1.3 Recommendations for advanced life support (ALS) air
2. Referenced Documents
ambulances include the first part of this specification that
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
defines the minimum requirements for aircraft configuration
F1149 Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Au-
and capability, the minimum number of seats for personnel,
thority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical
and the minimum medical equipment and supplies. Additional
Direction of Emergency Medical Services
requirements for ALS are found in Annex A1.
F1229 Guide for Qualification and Training of EMS Air
1.4 Recommendations for specialized medical support
Medical Patient Care Providers
(SMS) air ambulances include those for BLS and may include
3
2.2 AHA Standard:
some or all of the ALS requirements that define the minimum
2010 Guidelines for CPR and ECC
requirements for aircraft configuration and capability, the
National EMS Scope of Practice Model DOT HS 810 657
minimum number of seats for personnel, and the minimum
4
(current 2/2007)
medical equipment and supplies. Additional requirements for
CAMTS: 9th Edition Accreditation Standards of the Com-
SMS air ambulances are found in Annex A2.
mission on Accreditation of Medical Transport System,
1.5 In this specification, minimum requirements for air
approved August 2012
ambulances providers are identified, however, ambulance
Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Model State
services, under the direction of their medical director, are
Guidelines, first edition approved 2012
encouraged to use them as a core list and adjust their
5
2.3 CGA Standards:
configuration or manifest or both according to their mission
CGA C-9 Standard for Color-Marking of Compressed Gas
profile and patient population.
Cylinders Intended for Medical Use
1.6 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Emergency Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
F30.01 on EMS Equipment. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2015. Published February 2016. Originally Available from the American Heart Association, ahajournals.org.
4
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F2318–04, which was http://www.ems.gov/education/EMSScope.pdf
5
withdrawn January 2013 and reinstated in November 2015. DOI: 10.1520/F2318- Available from the Compressed Gas Association, 14501 George Carter Way,
15. Suite 103
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