Hold CPR: Get an Ambulance and Helicopter

Time is ticking away. You might want to put down those few hundred pages of Emergency Cardiac Care Guidelines 2010 and pick up a copy of the draft NFPA 1917 Standard for Automotive Ambulances. "Doesn't affect me," you say? I'd bet otherwise; if you ride a bus, aid car, rescue, box, ambulance, or whatever else you call that patient care and transport vehicle on wheels, this standard affects you. Once finalized in 2013, the feds will drop their KKK purchasing spec which is probably the guideline you currently live under. Have a look and see; comments are due back to NFPA no later than December 15, 2010.

While you're in a reading mode, you might want to take a look at the proposed FAA Rules for Air Ambulances. These sweeping new regulations also affect you. Comments are due back to the FAA no later than January 10, 2011.

When you're done studying the NFPA Ambulance Standards and the FAA Air Medical Rules, you can get back to your November 2010 issue of Circulation. Those CPR changes are going to take some time to make it out into the textbooks and teaching materials. While you're at it, take a peek at our growing FireEMS page on the Fire Engineering website. We're focused on keeping you up to date with the latest FireEMS news and information you need to stay on the leading edge of patient care!

Mike McEvoy
FireEMS Editor
Fire Engineering