West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services

Ambulance Child Occupants

Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2009 1:41 PM

This memo is to address concerns regarding this requirement on the new EMS Vehicle Equipment and Supply List.

Since publication of West Virginia's list, the EMS for Children program has removed this reference and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is in the process of updating guidance on acceptable types of child restraint systems for ambulances.

Due to these events, WVOEMS is suspending the equipment list requirement for a Child Occupant Restraint System until such time as appropriate federal guidance is available. It is important to note, however, that ambulances in West Virginia are not exempt from state laws requiring passenger restraint in motor vehicles.

An additional resource regarding the transportation of children in ambulances is contained in the attached document "Do's and Don'ts of Safe Transport" from the federal EMS for Children program.

Please feel free to contact Vicki Hildreth if you have further questions.

File attachment

ambulance_child_occupant_protection_system.pdf