HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 6391 ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE FORT WORTH
CITY CODE (1964) , AS AMENDED, WHICH CHAPTER REGU-
LATES THE OPERATION OF AMBULANCES, BY AMENDING
PARAGRAPHS (a) AND (h) OF SEC. 6-1, DEFINITIONS,
PARAGRAPH (c) OF SEC. 6-19, OPERATING REGULATIONS,
AND SEC. 6-22, QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS FOR
DRIVERS ' AND ATTENDANTS' REGISTRATION, SO THAT
SAME REQUIRE THAT ATTENDANTS SATISFACTORILY COM-
PLETE THE 72-HOUR ADVANCED FIRST-AID TRAINING
COURSE OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECH-
NICIAN (EMT) COURSE, AND BE CERTIFIED BY THE
HEALTH DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH; MAK-
ING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR
THE VIOLATION THEREOF; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That Paragraphs (a) and (h) of Sec. 6-1, Definitions,
of Chapter 6 of the Fort Worth City Code (1964) , as amended,
are hereby amended, and after having been so amended, same
shall be and read as follows:
"(a) AMBULANCE - The term 'ambulance' shall
mean any motor vehicle for emergency care which
provides a driver compartment and a patient com-
partment to accommodate two emergency medical
technicians and litter patients so positioned
that at least one patient can be given intensive
life-support during transit; Which carries equip-
ment and supplies for optimal emergency care at
the scene, as well as during transport, for two-
way radio communication, for safeguarding per-
sonnel and patients under hazardous conditions,
and for light rescue procedures; and which is
designed and constructed to afford maximum safety
and comfort and to avoid aggravation of the
patient's condition, exposure to complications,
and threat to survival. Each such ambulance
shall have not less than fifty-four (54) inches
of head-room in the ,patient compartment from the
floorboard the cot rests upon to the ceiling,
with twenty-five (25) inches of unencumbered floor
space beside the cot, and such compartment shall
be not less than one hundred sixteen (116) inches
in length,
"(h) CODE III CALLS - The term 'Code III
Calls ' shall mean the emergency type call,
and shall include all calls involving serious
injuries or illnesses which could result in
loss of life or permanent injury. Red lights
and siren are used."
SECTION 2.
That Paragraph (c) of Sec. 6-19, Operating Regulations,
of Chapter 6 of the Fort Worth City Code (1964) , as amended,
is hereby amended, and after having been so amended, same
shall be and read as follows:
"(c) Each ambulance shall have, in addition
to the driver, an attendant who holds a current
valid certificate showing that be has satis-
factorily completed the Emergency Medical Tech-
nician (EMT) Basic 72-hour ambulance personnel
training course, also known as the Emergency-
Medical Technician (EMT) course, certified by
the City Health Officer, which attendant shall
remain in attendance to the patient being con-
veyed."
SECTION 3.
That Sec. 6-22, Qualifications of Applicants for Drivers '
and Attendants' Registration, of Chapter 6 of the Fort Worth
City Code (1964) , as amended, is hereby amended, and after
having been so amended, same shall be and read as follows:
"Sec. 6-22. Qualifications of Applicants for
Drivers ' and Attendants ' Registration.
Each applicant for registration as an ambu-
lance driver or attendant in the City shall be
a citizen of the United States of America. Each
applicant for an ambulance driver's registration
must be the holder of a current chauffeur's
license issued by the Department of Public Safety
of the State of Texas. Each applicant must be
able to speak, read and write the English language.
Each applicant must furnish a written certificate
from the City Health Officer that he is of sound
physique, possesses good eyesight and good hearing,
is not subject to epilepsy-, vertigo, heart trouble,
or infirmity of body or mind, has had a blood test
and a chest x-ray, and is not addicted to the
use of drugs or intoxicating liquors so as to
render him unfit to perform the duties of the
driver or attendant. Each applicant must fur-
nish satisfactory proof that he is a person of
good moral character. Each applicant must fur-
nish proof that he holds a valid certificate
showing that he has satisfactorily completed
the Red Cross Advanced First-Aid Course and the
6-hour American Heart Association's course in
cardio7pulmonary resusitation, and such proof
must be certified by the Health Director of the
City, of Fort Worth.
All applicants for ambulance attendant must
also furnish proof of satisfactory completion
of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic
72-hour personnel training course, and such proof
must also be certified by the Health Director
of the City of Fort Worth."
SECTION 4.
Any person, firm, corporation, or any agent or employee
thereof who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00) for each offense. Each day that a violation is per-
mitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 5.
This ordinance shall be, and is hereby declared to be,
cumulative of all other ordinances of the City of Fort Worth,
and this ordinance shall not operate to repeal or affect any
of such other ordinances except insofar as the provisions
thereof may be expressly inconsistent or directly in conflict
with the provisions of this ordinance, in which event such
conflicting provisions, if any, in such other ordinance or
ordinances are hereby repealed.
SECTION 6*
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City
Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses
and phrases of this ordinance are severable; and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordi-
nance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judg-
ment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such
unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining
phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this
ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City
Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any
such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or
section.
SECTION 7.
That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect
from and after its passage and publication as provided by
law.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY.-
1_n6 'Lu Ci TO FORM
Adopted this the 14 1; day of Alove-nizer. , 1970