HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232385.tiffWELD COUNTY
CODE ORDINANCE 2023-11
IN THE MATTER OF REPEALING AND REENACTING, WITH AMENDMENTS, CHAPTER 7
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, OF THE WELD COUNTY CODE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF
WELD, STATE OF COLORADO:
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of
Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with
the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners, on December 28, 2000, adopted
Weld County Code Ordinance 2000-1, enacting a comprehensive Code for the County of Weld,
including the codification of all previously adopted ordinances of a general and permanent nature
enacted on or before said date of adoption, and
WHEREAS, the Weld County Code is in need of revision and clarification with regard to
procedures, terms, and requirements therein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of the
County of Weld, State of Colorado, that Chapter 7 of the Weld County Code be, and hereby is,
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows.
CHAPTER 7
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
ARTICLE I - General Provisions
Amend Sec. 7-1-30. Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this Chapter.
Ambulance means any privately or publicly owned land vehicle especially constructed or
modified and equipped, intended to be used and maintained or operated by an ambulance service
for the transportation in the County of individuals who are sick, injured or otherwise incapacitated
or helpless. For the purposes of this Chapter, ambulance shall not include air vehicles used in air
medical transport because, by state law, such air ambulances are licensed by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment.
a. and b. — No change.
Add c. Reserve ambulance means any ambulance that meets the requirements for
equipment as outlined in Weld County Code Section 7-4-20. A reserve ambulance
is considered non -operational but can transition to a basic or advanced life support
PAGE 1
2023-2385
ORD2023-11
ambulance, and become operational, at such time as deemed necessary by the
licensed ambulance service. The licensed ambulance service attests that, at the
time a reserve ambulance is transitioned to either a basic or advanced life support
ambulance, it shall meet all the requirements of Weld County Code
Sections 7-1-20, 7-4-10, and 7-4-20, along with the requirements in the current
EMS Laws applicable to the type of ambulance, either a basic life support
ambulance or advanced life support ambulance.
Remainder of Section — No change.
ARTICLE II - Licenses and Permits
Amend Sec. 7-2-20. Vehicle permit for each ambulance.
In addition to the license required by Section 7-2-10 above, for an ambulance service, the
Department shall issue a permit for each ambulance used. Said ambulance vehicle permit shall
be issued upon a finding that the applicant's vehicle and equipment comply with the requirements
of this Chapter and the applicable requirements set forth in the current EMS Laws. The permit
issued for each vehicle will describe the maximum level of service that can be provided by that
vehicle (e.g., "ambulance reserve", "ambulance basic life support", or "ambulance advanced life
support"). The ambulance vehicle permit fee shall be set by separate ordinance.
Amend Sec. 7-2-80. Exclusions.
The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the following:
A. thru C. — No change.
D. An ambulance service that does not transport patients from points originating in the State
or transporting a patient originating outside the borders of the State.
Remainder of Section — No change.
ARTICLE IV - Ambulance Vehicle Requirements
Amend Sec. 7-4-20. Ambulance equipment.
Each ambulance, whether it be permitted as a reserve, basic life support, or advanced life
support ambulance, shall contain the following equipment which shall be maintained in good
working order:
A. and B. — No change.
Insert new C. Patient assessment equipment, including blood pressure cuffs (large adult, regular
adult, child, and infant sizes); stethoscope; illumination device capable of testing for
pupillary reaction; and pulse oximeter (with adult and pediatric sensors).
PAGE 2
2023-2385
ORD2023-11
D. In the case of ambulances providing primary care in the County, or otherwise qualified
pursuant to Section 7-2-90 of this Chapter, a capability of two-way radio communication
with the following: the ambulance dispatcher, the Weld County Regional Communication
Center and on-line medical control.
E. Body substance isolation equipment, including non -sterile disposable latex -free gloves;
protective eye wear; non -sterile surgical masks; NIOSH approved N95 or superior
particulate filtering respirator (universal size); and sharps container.
F. Basic Safety equipment, including appropriate protective restraints for patients, crew,
accompanying family members, and other vehicle occupants; a properly secured patient
transport system; child protective restraint system that accommodates a weight range of
5 to 99 pounds; one ten -pound (or two five -pound) ABC fire extinguisher; warning
reflectors (set of three); and triage tags.
G. For either basic life support or advanced life support ambulances, additional equipment
required shall be set forth, as applicable, in the current EMS Laws. The Director may add
to this list at his or her discretion as other needs or new methodology becomes known.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board that the Clerk to the Board be, and hereby is,
directed to arrange for Municode to supplement the Weld County Code with the amendments
contained herein, to coincide with chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections as they
currently exist within said Code; and to resolve any inconsistencies regarding capitalization,
grammar, and numbering or placement of chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections
in said Code.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board, if any section, subsection, paragraph,
sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held or decided to be
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. The
Board of County Commissioners hereby declares that it would have enacted this Ordinance in
each and every section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof irrespective
of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or
phrases might be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
PAGE 3
2023-2385
ORD2023-11
The above and foregoing Ordinance Number 2023-11 was, on motion duly made and
seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 6th day of September, A.D., 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST:
Mike Freeman, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the Board
Perry L. Buck, Pro-Tem
BY:
Deputy Clerk to the Board
Scott K. James
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Kevin D. Ross
County Attorney
Lori Saine
Date of signature:
First Reading: July 24, 2023
Publication: July 30, 2023, in the Greeley Tribune
Second Reading: August 14, 2023
Publication: August 20, 2023, in the Greeley Tribune
Final Reading: September 6, 2023
Publication: September 10, 2023, in the Greeley Tribune
Effective: September 15, 2023
PAGE 4
2023-2385
ORD2023-11
Hello