§ 11-151. Definitions.

The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Administrator means the Monroe County Administrator or his designee.

Advanced life support (ALS) means treatment of life-threatening medical emergencies through the use of techniques such as endotracheal intubation, the administration of drugs, intravenous fluids, telemetry, cardiac monitoring, or cardiac defibrillation by a qualified person, pursuant to F.S. ch. 401 and F.A.C. ch. 10D-66.

Advanced life support service means any emergency medical transport or nontransport service which uses advanced life support techniques.

Advanced life support service/fire rescue means any fire department which provides advanced life support services, but which does not routinely transport those persons receiving such services.

Ambulance or emergency medical services vehicle means any privately or publicly owned land, air or water vehicle that is designed, constructed, reconstructed, maintained, equipped or operated for and is used for or intended to be used for air, land or water transportation of sick or injured persons who are in need of emergency medical attention during transport and who must be transported on a stretcher.

Ambulance driver means any person who meets the requirements of F.S. § 401.281.

Basic life support (BLS) means treatment of life-threatening medical emergencies by a qualified person through the use of techniques such as patient assessment, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, splinting, obstetrical assistance, bandaging, administration of oxygen, application of medical antishock trousers, and other techniques described in the Emergency Medical Technician Basic Training Course Curriculum of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The term "basic life support" also includes esophageal intubation, if the emergency medical technician performing the intubation has been trained in the skill of esophageal intubation and is performing the intubation under the medical direction of a licensed physician. Cardiac monitoring, telemetry, and the monitoring and maintenance of an intravenous fluid may be performed by a certified emergency medical technician if such person is trained in these skills and performs them under the direction of a licensed physician.

Basic life support service means any emergency medical transport service which uses basic life support techniques.

Certificate means a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to this article.

Dispatch centers means board-approved dispatch centers in the county.

Emergency medical services means any person, firm, corporation, association, volunteer organization, or governmental entity owning or acting as agent for the owner of any business or service which furnishes, operates, conducts, maintains, advertises, engages in, proposes to engage in, or professes to engage in the business or service of providing advanced life support and/or basic life support services.

Emergency medical technician (EMT) means any person who is trained in basic life support and who is certified by the state department of health and rehabilitative services to perform such procedures in emergency situations.

Medical direction means direct physician supervision through two-way voice communication or, when such voice communication is unavailable, through established standing orders, pursuant to F.S. ch. 401 and F.A.C. ch. 10D-66.

Medical director means a licensed physician, employed or contracted by an advance life support or basic life support service, who provides medical supervision, not to include administrative and managerial functions, for daily operations and training pursuant to the provisions of F.S. ch. 401, F.A.C. ch. 10D-66, and this article.

Nonemergency medical transportation service means any person, firm, corporation, association, volunteer organization or governmental entity owning or acting as agent for the owner of any business or service which furnishes, operates, conducts, maintains, advertises, engages in, proposes to engage in, or professes to engage in the business or service of air, land or water transportation of persons who are confined to wheelchairs or stretchers and whose condition is such that these persons do not need, nor are likely to need, immediate medical attention during transport.

Nonemergency medical transportation vehicle means any privately or publicly owned air, land or water vehicle that is designed, constructed, reconstructed, maintained, equipped, or operated for and is used for or intended to be used for air, land or water transportation of persons who are confined to wheelchairs or stretchers and whose condition is such that these persons do not need, nor are likely to need, immediate medical attention during transport.

Paramedic means a person certified by the state department of health and rehabilitative services to perform basic and advanced life support procedures.

Physician means a practitioner licensed under the provisions of F.S. chs. 458 or 459.

(Code 1979, § 6.5-3; Ord. No. 1-1982, § 3; Ord. No. 20-1983, § 3)