Print Story _ Understanding the NFPA 1917 Ambulance Standard - EMS1
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17/12/2014Print Story : Understanding the NFPA 1917 ambulance standard EMS1.com 12/10/2014 Understanding the NFPA 1917 ambulance standard A look at what NFPA 1917 means for ambulance design and how we got here By Robert Avsec For about as long as there has been EMS in the United States, there has been the "Triple K" specifications for ambulances. The KKKA1822 specifications were first developed and published by the U.S. General Services Administration in the 1970s as the purchasing specifications for federal ambulances. At that same time, block grants were in vogue as a means for distributing federal money to communities, and those block grants required that vehicle purchases must comply with federally approved specifications. Very quickly, as things tended to happen in the early days of EMS, EMS agencies and local, state, and federal officials used the KKKA1822 for ambulance purchases under block grants as it was the only document available. And thus, KKKA1822 became the de facto ambulance standard in the United States. In recent years, two developments have prompted the search for a more applicable ambulance standard. First was GSA's decision that it would no longer continue to maintain the specifications that were originally focused solely on a vehicle purchasing decision. Although GSA has revised and routinely extended the KKK specifications over the past 40plus years, it never had the technical expertise in house to keep up with the rapidly evolving ambulance. Expert Analysis Updated federal ambulance standards are step in the right direction By Arthur Hsieh If you ever wondered why the insides of ambulances in the United States look remarkably alike, you can thank the federal “KKK” standards for that. As this article explains ,when EMS systems began developing in the early 1970s, the U.S. General Services Administration (USGSA) developed a series of ambulance standards that were used by states to purchase ambulances with assistance from federal block grants. The standards have essentially remained the same since then. Second, there's the increasing number of patients and EMS providers that are being killed and injured in ambulance crashes each year. Without evolution, these standards may be contributing to unnecessary injuries or even the deaths of EMS providers. Those mortality and morbidity numbers prompted the International Association of Fire Chiefs to begin working with the National Fire Protection Association in 2009 to develop a true standard for a safer ambulance. Their work culminated with the approval of NFPA 1917: Standard for Automotive Ambulances in August 2012. For example, do you wear a seatbelt in the back of the rig? Chances are very likely that you do not, and the answer for why is simple – you can’t do anything with the patient once you’re belted. Loose items on the bench or shelves become missiles when airborne. And, let’s not mention that the seemingly solid side walls of the box are anything but protective – there’s enough photos on the web to show how easy the ambulance walls crumple and split in a crash. What is NFPA 1917? Developed with consideration of KKKA1822 and NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, NFPA 1917 defines the minimum requirements for the design, performance, and testing of new automotive ambulances. The standard presents general requirements for ambulance design and performance, along with standalone chapters for ambulance components including chassis, patient compartment, lowvoltage electrical systems and warning devices, and line voltage electrical systems. NFPA 1917 also specifies provisions for test methods. Initially, this had to be viewed as a win for all parties involved. GSA would be relieved of its responsibility for maintaining a standard for which it was never fully intended and EMS providers and patients would get a safer ambulance. There were, as one would expect, other entities that did not have the same positive viewpoint initially. NFPA was considered a good fit for developing the standard because of its long history of developing consensus or industry standards for the fire service. Nonfire EMS organizations, however, expressed fears that the fire service was taking over EMS and that the standard would require all ambulances to be painted red, have a water tank and be mediumduty ambulances. Some of those same organizations expressed fears that they would not have a voice in the standard development, and that they could not afford the price of an ambulances meeting an NFPA standard. It is unclear how much more a 1917compliant ambulance would cost. Fears addressed Many of those fears were assuaged when those nonfire EMS organizations saw NFPA's technical committee makeup. It included representatives from these groups. National State Association of EMS Officials (9 percent). VFIS (3 percent). Emergency Vehicle Technicians Association (3 percent). International Association of Firefighters (12 percent). Association of Emergency Vehicle Manufacturers (30 http://www.ems1.com/print.asp?act=print&vid=2038336 Continue reading Updated federal ambulance standards are step in the right direction Related Article: EMS: Weigh in on new ground ambulance standards Related content sponsored by: 15 ambulance changes Load capacity will be 171 pounds per seated position. A seatbelt monitoring system that senses when a seat is occupied and a seatbelt attached. Audible and visible warning devices will trigger for cab and patient compartments if the parking brake is released and the transmission is not in park. Tirepressure monitors. Designate health care provider seating positions that are adjustable to within 6 inches of the cot. 1/2 they deserve to arrive to their destination safely. hosted by NASEMSO. The adoption and publication of NFPA 1917 is a significant development in helping all EMS agencies to obtain ambulances that meet both of those objectives. when EMS personnel board an ambulance. revision cycle for the 2016 edition will begin in mid2015. NFPA responded to this unprecedented interest by NASEMSO and its membership by establishing a task group to take a closer look at NFPA 1917.17/12/2014 Print Story : Understanding the NFPA 1917 ambulance standard EMS1. to inform and educate NASEMSO members about how the NFPA standard development process worked and on the details of NFPA 1917. scheduled for 2016. Mud flaps. which included individuals recommended by NASEMSO. All Rights Reserved. NIOSH (6 percent). not be revised or renewed — that same year. Users (27 percent). The current edition of NFPA 1917 is the 2013 edition; the Carbon monoxide detector. we owe it to them to keep them safe. During 2012. When a patient enters an ambulance. Items more than 3 pounds must be secured in a compartment or by device that withstands a 10g force. Underbody lighting that establishes lighting zones in which all areas of the truck must display certain warning lights. the National Association of State EMS Officials wanted more of a voice in the development and approval of NFPA 1917. Chevrons on rear doors in red and fluorescent yellow or green. met over the course of two days in January 2013 and out of those sessions came an extensive list of public comments that were sent on to NFPA. Interior cabinets marked with maximum weight rating. "Do not move" light connected to doors. The task group. GSA's KKKA1822 will be sunset — that is. © Copyright 2014 EMS1.ems1. Certificate of compliance — exceptions to be corrected before placing in service.asp?act=print&vid=2038336 2/2 .com. http://www. Speed governed for maximum speed of 77 mph.com percent). Most of those comments were accepted and will be incorporated into the second edition of NFPA 1917. NFPA and NASEMSO collaborated to develop several meetings.com/print. Additional hand rails at every point of ingress. IAFC and NFPA were both actively present in these meetings. storage racks and deployed devices. AMD testing standards. Research testing (9 percent). Ultimately.
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