(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 first responders, emergency medical service technicians-basic, emergency medical service technicians-intermediate, or emergency medical service technicians-paramedic, 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 a medical first responder, EMT, advanced EMT, 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 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 EMT, advanced EMT, or paramedic. This individual may serve as the driver.

(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, advanced EMTs, 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, advanced EMTs, or paramedics or by at least one first responder and one EMT, advanced EMT, or paramedic. One of these individuals may serve as the driver, but if the staffing requirement is being met by utilizing a medical first responder, the medical first responder shall serve as the driver.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.95, SB 243, §1, eff. 7/3/2012.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.27, HB 128, §1, eff. 9/23/2011.

Effective Date: 11-24-1995; 2008 SB129 12-30-2008