§ 7.16.010. Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms are defined and shall be construed as set forth in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

A.

"Advanced life support "(ALS)" means special services designed to provide definitive prehospital emergency medical care, including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, advanced airway management, intravenous therapy, administration of specified drugs and other medicinal preparations, and other specified techniques and procedures administered by authorized personnel under the direct supervision of a base hospital as part of a local EMS system at the scene of an emergency, during transport to an acute care hospital, during interfacility transfer, and while in the emergency department of an acute care hospital until responsibility is assumed by the emergency or other medical staff of the hospital.

B.

"Ambulance" means a motor vehicle specially constructed, modified, equipped, or arranged for the purpose of transporting sick, injured, convalescent, infirm, or otherwise incapacitated persons, authorized by the state as an emergency vehicle, and used, or having the potential for being used, in emergency or nonemergency medical service to the public, regardless of level of service. An ambulance includes a ground ambulance and EMS Aircraft.

C.

"Ambulance attendant" means any person other than the ambulance driver who is employed to accompany an ambulance driver while transporting any person needing medical attention or services.

D.

"Ambulance driver" means any person who drives an ambulance in which any person needing medical attention or services is transported.

E.

"Ambulance operator" means any person or entity who for any monetary or other consideration, or as an incident to any other occupation, transports in one or more ambulances one or more persons needing medical attention or services.

F.

"Ambulance services" means the transportation of any person for monetary or other consideration in an ambulance.

G.

"Basic life support (BLS)" means emergency first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures which, as a minimum, include recognizing respiratory and cardiac arrest and starting the proper application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to maintain life without invasive techniques until the victim may be transported or until advanced life support is available.

H.

"Code 2" or non-emergent means a request for ambulance transport which is urgent and is nonemergency and which cannot be scheduled more than one hour in advance.

I.

"Code 3" or emergent means the authorized use of red lights and siren during a response or transport.

J.

"Critical care transport" or "critical care transport provider" means any transport or person who transports a patient from one health care facility, trauma center, or acute care facility to another where the skill level required in the care of that patient during transport exceeds the basic life-support, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (Paramedic) level and scope of training.

K.

"Director of health services" or "director" shall include the County Director of Emergency Medical Services or his or her designee.

L.

"Emergency call" means a request for an ambulance where an individual has a need for immediate medical attention, or where the potential for such need is perceived by emergency medical personnel or a public safety agency.

M.

"Emergency Medical Services" means the services needed to provide immediate medical attention in a condition or situation in which an individual has need for such services or where the potential for such need is perceived by emergency medical personnel. Emergency medical services shall include all such services for all such persons in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.

N.

"EMS Aircraft" means any aircraft utilized for the purpose of prehospital emergency patient response and transport services. EMS Aircraft includes air ambulances and all categories of rescue aircraft as defined by state regulations.

O.

"Enforcement Officer" shall mean any county employee or agent designated by the director to enforce any provision of this chapter.

P.

"Hearing Officer" shall mean the person appointed by the director to conduct the administrative hearings provided for in this chapter. The hearing officer shall not be the enforcement officer who issued the notice of administrative fine that is the subject of the administrative hearing or his/her immediate supervisor.

Q.

"Local EMS agency" or "agency" means the county of Los Angeles department of health services, designated by the board as the local EMS agency pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 1797, et seq.

R.

"Nonemergency call" means a request for the transport of a stretcher patient to or from a medical facility in a licensed ambulance and which is neither an emergency call nor a critical care transport.

S.

"Response time" means the interval of time between the moment the basic items of dispatched information have been obtained by an operator to the moment the operator's ground ambulance arrives at the scene of pickup. Response time for nonemergency or scheduled calls, or both, shall be within 90 minutes of the time of the call or the scheduled pickup, whichever applies.

T.

"Special events" means any situation where a previously announced event or activity creates a need to have one or more ambulances present because of risks of physical harm to participants in the event or activity, or to others in attendance there, or to both such groups.

(Ord. 2011-0031 § 2, 2011: Ord. 2003-0058 § 2, 2003.)