Section 4765.43 - Ambulance staffing(A) During each emergency run made by an ambulance that is equipped for emergency medical services, the emergency medical service organization operating the ambulance shall staff the ambulance in accordance with this section. For purposes of determining the applicable staffing requirements, both of the following apply:
(1) An emergency run consists of components that are distinguished between the period during which the ambulance is traveling to the scene of an emergency and, if applicable, the period during which the ambulance is transporting a patient from the scene of the emergency.(2) In the case of an emergency medical service organization that utilizes a combination of volunteer and paid emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, or paramedics, the organization is considered to be substantially utilizing volunteers in a particular week when the paid individuals, taken as a whole, are scheduled for a total of not more than one hundred ninety-two hours in that week.(B) With respect to the driver of an ambulance during an emergency run, both of the following apply: (1) The driver must be at least eighteen years of age and hold a valid driver's license.(2) The driver must meet at least one of the following criteria:(a) Hold a valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an EMR, EMT, AEMT, or paramedic;(b) Hold a valid fire training certificate issued pursuant to section 4765.55 of the Revised Code to provide services as a firefighter;(c) Be employed and in good standing as a sworn sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer, marshal, deputy marshal, or highway patrol trooper in this state;(d) Have successfully completed either the emergency vehicle operations course approved by the national highway traffic safety administration or an equivalent course approved by the state board of emergency medical, fire, and transportation services.(C) With respect to the component of an emergency run during which the ambulance is traveling to the scene of the emergency, the ambulance shall be staffed by at least one of the following: (4) Any other person authorized to drive an ambulance in accordance with division (B) of this section, without an EMT, AEMT, or paramedic, provided that the driver meets an EMT, AEMT, or paramedic at the scene of the emergency.(D) With respect to the component of an emergency run during which a patient is being transported, the ambulance shall be staffed as follows:(1) If the emergency medical service organization utilizes only paid individuals or utilizes volunteers on a basis that is not considered to be substantially utilizing volunteers, the ambulance shall be staffed by at least two EMTs, AEMTs, or paramedics. One of these individuals may serve as the driver.(2) If the emergency medical service organization is substantially utilizing volunteers or utilizes only volunteers, the ambulance shall be staffed by at least two EMTs, AEMTs, or paramedics or by at least one EMR and one EMT, AEMT, or paramedic. One of these individuals may serve as the driver, but if the staffing requirement is being met by utilizing an EMR, the EMR shall serve as the driver. However, if the driver to the scene of the emergency was an individual authorized under division (C)(4) of this section who is not an EMR, that individual shall serve as the driver.(E) As used in this section: (1) "Emergency medical responder" and "EMR" have the same meanings as "first responder."(2) "Emergency medical technician" and "EMT" have the same meanings as "emergency medical technician-basic" and "EMT-basic," respectively.(3) "Advanced emergency medical technician" and "AEMT" have the same meanings as "emergency medical technician-intermediate" and "EMT-I," respectively.Amended by 133rd General Assembly, HB 444,§1, eff. 4/12/2021.Amended by 129th General Assembly, SB 243, §1, eff. 7/3/2012.Amended by 129th General Assembly, HB 128, §1, eff. 9/23/2011.Effective Date: 11-24-1995; 2008 SB129 12-30-2008