Effective Date

04/22/2026

800.24 Equipment requirements for certified ambulance services, basic life support first response vehicles and emergency ambulance service vehicles.

(a) All vehicles in a certified ambulance service, basic life support first response service, basic life support emergency ambulance service vehicles, and advanced life support first response service, must be equipped with the following, unless otherwise exempted or pursuant to a waiver obtained in accordance with section 800.25 of this Part. Table 1 outlines the equipment standard for Ambulance vehicles (Ambulance), Basic Life Support First Response vehicles (BLS FR), Basic Life Support – Emergency Ambulance Service Vehicles (BLS EASV) and Advanced Life Support – First Response vehicles (ALS FR):

Table 1

(b) Table 1(a)(6) references the National State EMS Officials “Pediatric Transport Products for Ground Ambulances” Version 2.3 (August, 2022) which provides guidelines for the selection of pediatric restraint systems. The guidelines set forth in National State EMS Officials “Pediatric Transport Products for Ground Ambulances” Version 2.3 (August, 2022) are hereby incorporated by reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth herein.  A copy of National State EMS Officials “Pediatric Transport Products for Ground Ambulances” Version 2.3 (August, 2022) is available for inspection and copying at the Regulatory Affairs Unit, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237.

(c) All equipment, supplies, medications, and vehicles mentioned in this section must be clean, sanitary, and operable as defined.

(1) Clean means vehicles and equipment shall be free from visible dirt, blood, other fluids, or stains. No visible rips, tears or other damage to seating surfaces in the vehicle may be present.

(2) Sanitary means all packaging for equipment, supplies, and medications must be intact, within expiration date, and cannot be discolored.

(3) Operable means the equipment, supplies, or vehicle is able to be used according to manufacturer instructions, guidelines, and any applicable laws, rules or statutes.

(d) An ambulance operating at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level is not required to carry the items listed under “required ALS Medications and adjuncts” in Table 1 of this section. 

(e) Any certified vehicle equipped to operate at an Advance Life Support (ALS) level, must be kept in such a manner that a lower level of certified provider is not able to access or use equipment outside their scope of practice when not in service as an ALS vehicle. 

(f) Basic Life Support First Response (BLSFR) agencies are not required to comply with the equipment requirements in this section unless they voluntarily participate in an educational program, pilot program or demonstration project as approved or defined by the department. A minimum of one vehicle must be registered with the department in order to participate in an educational program, pilot program or demonstration project. Any equipment, medications, or adjuncts that are optional for BLS providers in protocol (if trained and equipped) will also be optional for BLS FR agencies.

(g) All certified first responders, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians operating on a certified vehicle must be able to operate all equipment and systems onboard the vehicle for their level of certification and must be able to demonstrate competency of equipment at any time to ensure the appropriate care and treatment of a patient.

(h) When not occupied, all certified vehicles are required to be secured to prevent entry, theft, or unauthorized use of the vehicle or equipment.    

(i) Any volume of liquid in excess of 249 milliliters stored in a certified vehicle must be in plastic containers.

(j) The equipment standards set forth in this section will go into effect six months after the regulations are adopted. All current equipment standards shall remain in effect until such time as this section becomes effective.