<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 10-20. - Definitions.</div>
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            <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">Advanced life support non-emergency franchise</span> means a franchise granted to an organization with personnel trained to the advanced
               level of service and certified by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services.
               This level is franchised to transport patients who are in need of a higher level of
               medical treatment between health care facilities or between health care facilities
               and home in order to prevent loss of life, further aggravation, psychological illness
               or injury. Franchisee may not use warning lights and audible warning devices. Franchisee
               must have a medical director approved by Martin County and advanced life support protocols
               approved by the Martin County Medical Director and the Martin County Office of Emergency
               Medical Services.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Ambulance</span> means any privately or publicly owned motor vehicle, aircraft or vessel that is specially
               designed, constructed, or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for and
               is maintained or operated for the transportation on the streets or highways, waterways,
               or airways of this state, of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise
               incapacitated or helpless.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Ambulance provider</span> means a person who engages in the business or service of transporting patients in
               an ambulance.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Approved</span> means approved by the state medical care commission pursuant to the latest rules
               and regulations promulgated under G.S. 143B-165.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Basic life support non-emergency franchise</span> means a franchise granted to an organization with personnel trained at the emergency
               medical technician (EMT) level and certified by the North Carolina Office of Emergency
               Medical Services. This level is franchised to transport patients between health care
               facilities and home in non-emergent situations within the county. The use of warning
               lights and audible warning devices is not allowed.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Council</span> means the county ambulance service advisory council.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">County</span> means the board of commissioners and/or EMS administrator.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Dispatcher</span> means a person who is available at all times to receive requests for emergency services,
               to dispatch emergency services and to advise local law enforcement agencies and emergency
               medical facilities of any existing or threatened emergency.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Driver's 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">Emergency medical service</span> means a person with personnel and equipment who engages or professes to engage in
               the business or service of transporting patients who are sick, injured, wounded, or
               otherwise incapacitated or helpless, who are in need of immediate medical treatment
               in order to prevent loss of life, further aggravation, or psychological illness or
               injury and is normally dispatched on first call response.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical technician (EMT)</span> means an individual who has completed a training program in emergency medical care
               at least equal to the national standard training program for emergency medical technicians,
               as defined by the United States Department of Transportation, and has been certified
               as an emergency medical technician by the North Carolina Department of Health and
               Human Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency transportation service</span> means the use of an ambulance, its equipment and personnel to provide medical care
               and transportation of a patient who is in need of immediate medical treatment between
               health care facilities or between health care facilities and home in order to prevent
               loss of life, further aggravation, or psychological illness or injury.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchise</span> means a permit issued by the Martin County Office of Emergency Medical Services to
               a person for the operation as an ambulance provider.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchisee</span> means any person having been issued a franchise by the Martin County Office of Emergency
               Medical Services for the operation as an ambulance provider.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Frivolous complaint</span> means a complaint filed without valid proof of wrongdoing, not a serious complaint.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Medical responder (MR)</span> means an individual who has completed a training program in emergency medical care
               and first aid approved by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
               and has been certified as a medical responder by the North Carolina Department of
               Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Non-emergency transportation service</span> means the operation of an ambulance for any purpose other than transporting emergency
               patients or transporting patients between health care facilities.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Operator</span> means a person in actual physical control of an ambulance which is in motion or which
               has the engine running.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Owner</span> means any person or entity who owns an ambulance.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Patient</span> means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or
               helpless such that the need for some medical assistance might be anticipated while
               being transported to or from a medical facility or residence.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Person</span> means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or 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 a situation where the victim cannot escape an area through the normal exit
               or under such victim's own power.
               
            </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 2005-7, Â§ 1-100, 11-9-2005;
               <a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="15271" data-ordinance-id="849091">
                  Ord. of 9-13-2017(1)
                  </a>
               , 9-13-2017)
               
            </p></div>