Trans 309.06(2) (2) An ambulance may be loaned or leased to an ambulance service provider by an ambulance manufacturer or dealer in order to avoid a hardship on that ambulance service provider and the emergency medical service needs of the community or communities it represents. The ambulance service must notify the inspector or department that they are obtaining the ambulance, the reason why, and the approximate duration as soon as possible. The loaned or leased ambulance must be temporarily replacing, for not more than 6 months, an ambulance inspected and approved by the department under this chapter. If the ambulance service needs the use of a loaned or leased ambulance for any period of time greater than 6 months, approval must be granted by the department’s inspector. The entity loaning or leasing the ambulance must ensure the ambulance complies with the requirements of ss. Trans 309.09 to 309.16. The ambulance service receiving the loaned or leased ambulance must comply with all the applicable requirements of this chapter, except for those requirements of this chapter that can be waived under the joint written agreement of the ambulance service provider receiving the loaned or leased ambulance and the department inspector.

Trans 309.06 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; am., Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; CR 19-074: renum. Trans 309.06 to (1), cr. (2) Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11-1-20; correction in (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register October 2020 No. 778.

Trans 309.07 Trans 309.07 Variances.

Trans 309.07(1) (1) The department may grant a variance if it determines that the lack of such variance will create an undue hardship in meeting the emergency medical service needs of the community the applicant serves.

Trans 309.07(2) (2) In determining whether an undue hardship may be created if a variance is not granted, the department shall consider all of the following:

Trans 309.07(2)(a) (a) The kind and amount of emergency medical services available in the immediate area served by the applicant.

Trans 309.07(2)(b) (b) The presence of other ambulance service providers in surrounding communities that might be available to assist in emergencies through mutual aid agreements or other similar arrangements.

Trans 309.07(2)(c) (c) The number and type of emergency and nonemergency service calls made by the applicant within the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of application.

Trans 309.07(2)(d) (d) Any plans developed by the applicant to upgrade the existing vehicles to established specifications.

Trans 309.07(2)(e) (e) Any other information that may be relevant to the question of the need for a variance in the particular case.

Trans 309.07(3) (3) Each application for a variance shall be referred by the department to the department of health services for review and recommendation. The department shall give great weight to such recommendation when deciding whether a variance should be granted.

Trans 309.07(4) (4) The issuance of a variance to any person for any ambulance does not exempt that vehicle from the biennial inspection requirements imposed in this chapter.

Trans 309.07(5) (5) The right to continue operation of an ambulance for which a variance has been granted or recognized under this section is not transferable to any other person or vehicle and a copy of the variance must be carried in the ambulance at all times.

Trans 309.07 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; am. (1) and (4), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; r. (1) and (4), renum. (2) (a), (b) (intro.), 1. to 5., (5) and (6) to be (1) and (2) (intro.), (a) to (e), (4) and (5) and am. (2) (intro.) to (d)., (4) and (5), Register, February, 1999, No. 518, eff. 4-1-99; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register December 2010 No. 660; CR 19-074: am. (5) Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11-1-20.

Trans 309.08 Trans 309.08 Documentation.

Trans 309.08(1) (1) Registration and insurance. At the time of inspection, the service provider shall open to inspection the proof of current registration and insurance on each ambulance to be inspected. The proof of registration and insurance or copies of each shall be carried in each ambulance and be available upon request of the inspector.

Trans 309.08(2) (2) Drug list. Upon inspection, the service provider shall provide a copy of the current list of approved drugs from the services medical director. The list shall state the minimum amount of each drug the provider will carry on each ambulance.

Trans 309.08(3) (3) Maintenance. An ambulance service provider shall maintain their ambulances as specified by the OEM. Vehicle service or maintenance records shall be maintained by the ambulance service provider for the life of the ambulance and shall be made available to the department upon inspection.

Trans 309.08(4) (4) Crash register. An ambulance service provider shall keep a written or electronic register of each crash their vehicles are involved in. The register shall include the crash number issued by the investigating agency, date, location, driver name, number of injuries, number of fatalities and vehicles towed.

Trans 309.08 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1999, No. 518, eff. 4-1-99; CR 19-074: am. (1), r. and recr. (2), cr. (3), (4) Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11-1-20; correction in (3), (4) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register October 2020 No. 778.

subch. II of ch. Trans 309 Subchapter II—Vehicle Standards

Trans 309.09 Trans 309.09 Patient compartment interior dimensions.

Trans 309.09(1) (1) The patient compartment shall have not less than 300 cubic feet of space less 10% deviation for cabinets and shall meet the following specifications:

Trans 309.09(1)(a) (a) Length. Measured from the partition to the inside edge of the rear loading doors, the patient compartment shall be not less than 116 inches in length. There shall be not less than 25 inches and not more than 30 inches of unobstructed space at the head of the primary patient, measured from the face of the backrest of the EMT’s seat to the forward edge of the primary cot.

Trans 309.09(1)(b) (b) Width. The compartment shall provide a minimum of 12” of clear aisle walkway between the edge of the primary patient cot and base of the nearest vertical feature measured along the floor.

Trans 309.09(1)(c) (c) Height. The patient compartment shall be not less than 60 inches in height over the patient area measured from the floor to the ceiling, exclusive of cabinets or equipment and symmetrical corners and edges.

Trans 309.09(2) (2) The interior of the body shall be free of all unnecessary projections. It shall be maintained in a sanitary condition. All hangers or supports for equipment and devices shall be mounted as flush as possible with the surrounding surface when not in use. Padding shall be placed at all head area obstructions which may prove dangerous to persons moving about in the patient compartment. Other exposed edges shall be beveled with not less than a 1/8 inch radius or chamfer, and a 1/2 to 1 inch radius on exposed corners. The finish of the entire patient compartment including interiors of storage cabinets shall be impervious to soap and water, disinfectants and mildew and shall be fire resistant. Any floor to wall surface joints shall be sealed with an impervious seal.

Trans 309.09 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; am. (1) (a) and (2), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; corrected to restore dropped copy, Register, April, 1997, No. 496; am. (1) (c), Register, February, 1999, No. 518, eff. 4-1-99; CR 19-074: am. (1) (b) Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11-1-20.

Trans 309.10 Trans 309.10 Doors. An ambulance shall have 2 unobstructed door openings in addition to the doors for the driver cab compartment. There shall be at least one door opening on the right forward side and a single door or double doors at the rear of the patient compartment. A forward hinged single door, double doors or a sliding type door shall have a minimum right side door opening of 30 inches in width, and 54 inches in height for Types I, I-AD, III and III-AD ambulances and 42 inches in height for Type II ambulances. The opening shall provide clearance to allow access and removal of a patient strapped to a long spine board. Single or double rear loading doors shall cover a clear opening of not less than 46 inches in height and 44 inches in width for Types I, I-AD, III and III-AD ambulances, and the manufacturer’s standard for Type II ambulances. The ambulance body doors shall be equipped with not less than 250 square inches of safety glass area per door. Doors shall be designed for easy release from both the interior and exterior of the ambulance, but an accidental opening shall be prevented by an interlocking system that functions even when doors are not completely closed. Each door shall have effective compression or overlapping seals to prevent the entry of dust, water and air. Doors may contain recessed compartments to the interior for storage of supplies and devices.