<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 22-26. - Definitions.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="p0">
               The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the
               meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates
               a different meaning:
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Ambulance</span> means any publicly or privately owned motor vehicle that is specially designed, constructed,
               or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for and is maintained or operated
               for the transportation upon the streets and highways in this state of persons who
               are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Ambulance service</span> means a public or privately owned enterprise that is engaged in the transportation
               of patients to emergency and/or nonemergency medical facilities for a fee.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Approved</span> means approved by the state medical care commission pursuant to the rules and regulations
               promulgated pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Board</span> means the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Convalescent</span> means the transportation of sick or infirm patients, having a known, nonemergency
               medical condition, on a scheduled basis between facilities or between a residence
               and a facility. Convalescent ambulances shall not be used in place of any other category
               of ambulance.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">County</span> means Buncombe County.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Dispatcher</span> means a person who is available at all times to receive requests for emergency services
               and to dispatch emergency services.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency</span> and <span class="ital">emergency transportation service</span> means the operation of an ambulance in order to provide medical care and transportation
               of a patient who is in need of immediate medical treatment in order to prevent loss
               of life or further aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical technician (EMT), EMT intermediate and EMT paramedic</span> means an individual who has completed the minimum program for certification and is
               so certified by the state.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">First responder</span> means the first dispatched medical or rescue aid to arrive at the scene and provide
               emergency medical assistance to stabilize the patient while waiting for further medical
               aid and/or transport.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchise</span> means a permit issued by the county to any person or business entity for the operation
               of a commercial ambulance service.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchisee</span> means any person having been issued a franchise by the county for the operation of
               a commercial ambulance service.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">License</span> means any driver's license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under or granted
               by the laws of the state.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Nonemergency transportation services</span> means the transportation by ambulance of a person having an immediate or prompt need
               for medical treatment or care other than an emergency.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">OEMS</span> means the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services which is a section
               of the division of health service regulation of the North Carolina Department of Health
               and Human Services.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">OEMS rules</span> means the rules promulgated and codified in the North Carolina Administrative Code
               for Emergency Medical Services and Trauma.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Owner</span> means any person or business entity who owns and operates an ambulance service.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Patient</span> means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or
               helpless.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Person</span> means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group
               of individuals acting together for a common purpose, or organization of any kind,
               including any governmental agency other than the United States.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Rescue</span> means situations where the victim cannot escape an area through the normal exit or
               under his or her own power.
               </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (
               <a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="12776" data-ordinance-id="709378">
                  Ord. No. 14-11-11
                  </a>
               , Â§ 1, 11-18-14)
               </p></div>