Chapter 102

(Senate Bill 93)

An Act to revise certain provisions related to the use of epinephrine and supraglottic airway devices by ambulance services.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That chapter 34-11 be amended with a NEW SECTION:

Any ambulance service licensed pursuant to this chapter may be equipped with single-dose epinephrine. The department shall adopt statewide protocols for the administration of epinephrine. A copy of the protocols, signed by the medical director of the ambulance service, must be carried in any ambulance equipped with epinephrine. Any emergency medical technician who has received training approved by the department may, pursuant to the protocols, administer epinephrine.

Section 2. That chapter 34-11 be amended with a NEW SECTION:

Any ambulance service licensed pursuant to this chapter may be equipped with a supraglottic airway device. The department shall adopt statewide protocols for the use of supraglottic airway devices. A copy of the protocols, signed by the medical director of the ambulance service, must be carried in any ambulance equipped with a supraglottic airway device. Any emergency medical technician who has received training approved by the department may, pursuant to the protocols, utilize a supraglottic airway device.

Section 3. That § 34-11-2 be AMENDED:

34-11-2. Terms used in §§ 34-11-2 to 34-11-10, inclusive, mean:

(1) "Air ambulance," an aircraft, fixed wing, or helicopter, that is designated or can be quickly modified to provide transportation of wounded, injured, sick, invalid, or incapacitated human beings or expectant mothers;

(2) "Ambulance," a vehicle for emergency care with a driver compartment and a patient compartment, carrying all equipment and supplies needed to provide emergency medical technician-basic level emergency care at the scene and enroute to an appropriate medical facility;

(3) "Ambulance service," any person or organization licensed to provide emergency medical services and patient transport;

(4) "Emergency medical responder," any person certified by the Department of Health trained to provide simple, noninvasive care focused on lifesaving interventions for critical patients. The emergency medical responder renders on site emergency care while awaiting additional emergency medical services response from an emergency medical technician or higher level personnel. An emergency medical responder may not make decisions independently regarding the appropriate disposition of a patient;

(5) "License," the permit to provide ambulance service;

(6) "Licensing agency," the Department of Health;

(7) "Medical director," a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 36-4 who is responsible for providing medical supervision and direction to an ambulance service; and

(8) "Operator," any person or entity who has a license from the licensing agency to provide ambulance service.

Section 4. That § 36-4B-38 be REPEALED:

The department, under the direction of the board, shall train each emergency medical technician to use an auto-injector in the administration of epinephrine in emergency cases of anaphylactic shock.

Section 5. That § 36-4B-39 be REPEALED:

Any ambulance service staffed by an emergency medical technician may be equipped with epinephrine auto-injectors. The board shall adopt statewide protocols for the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors. A copy of the board protocols signed by a physician shall be carried in any ambulance equipped with epinephrine auto-injectors. Any emergency medical technician who has received training may, pursuant to the protocols, administer epinephrine by use of an auto-injector.

Section 6. That § 36-4B-40 be REPEALED:

Any ambulance service staffed by an emergency medical technician may be equipped with supraglottic airway devices. The department shall adopt statewide protocols for the use of supraglottic airway devices. A copy of the department protocols signed by the medical director of the ambulance service shall be carried in any ambulance equipped with a supraglottic airway device. Any emergency medical technician who has received training may, pursuant to the protocols, utilize a supraglottic airway device.

Signed March 8, 2022