Chapter I of Title 10 (HEALTH) of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations

New York State Sanitary Code PART - 18

PUBLIC FUNCTIONS WITH ATTENDANCE OF OVER 5,000 PEOPLE

Last amended July, 1991

Statutory Authority: Public Health Law Section 225

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
875 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206-1388
518-402-0996

Printed - (9/97)

Sections

18.1 Definitions

As used in this Part, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

  • (a) Public function means any scheduled or advertised event open to the public and likely to attract 5,000 or more people at any one time, except that the term shall not apply to any single day of a planned multi-day series of events at which 5,000 or more people are not likely to attend.
  • (b) Emergency health care facility means a sheltered area or building either naturally or artificially so lighted as will promote the health and safety of patients provided emergency medical care, and containing cot(s) and/or litter(s) and emergency medical equipment and supplies as required by section 18.2 of this Part.
  • (c) Emergency Medical Technician means an individual who has been certified as such by the department pursuant to sections 800.6 or 800.8 of this Title.
  • (d) Permit-issuing official means the State Commissioner of Health or the commissioner's designee.
  • (e) Person means an individual, group of individuals, partnership, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry , estate or any other legal entity.
  • (f) Ambulance means a motor vehicle especially designed, equipped and staffed pursuant to sections 800.21, 800.22, 800.23 and 800.24 of this Title to provide emergency medical services during transit.

18.2 Equipment requirements for an emergency health care facility

Any emergency health care facility at a public function must contain at minimum the following equipment:

  • (a) Patient transfer equipment:
    • (1) A device equipped with two two-inch-wide web straps to secure a patient which will enable emergency medical service personnel to move the patient from the incident site to the emergency health care facility.
    • (2) In an auditorium, stadium or similar physical setting with seats in steep tiers, a stair chair-type stretcher.
  • (b) Airway, ventilation, oxygen and suction equipment:
    • (1) Manually operated, self-refilling bag-valve-mask ventilation device with a high concentration oxygen enrichment or portable manually triggered oxygen-powered resuscitation device, either of which shall include adult and pediatric-size face masks.
    • (2) Oropharyngeal airways, in adult, pediatric and infant sizes.
    • (3) Two commercially prepared bite sticks.
    • (4) A portable oxygen system with one medical "D" size cylinder including a regulator consisting of a yoke, pressure gauge, flow meter and a spare cylinder.
    • (5) Four disposable oxygen masks and four nasal cannulae.
    • (6) A portable suction device capable of providing an adjustable flow of over 30 liters/minute at the end of the delivery tube and a vacuum of over 300mm mercury when the tube is clamped, including wide bore tubing, a plastic, rigid pharyngeal suction tip and various size flexible suction catheters.
    • (7) One pocket face mask with oxygen inlet.
    • (8) Miscellaneous items for oral use which shall be kept clean and be individually wrapped.
  • (c) Immobilization equipment:
    • (1) One full-size backboard (72 inches long) with a minimum of two-inch by nine-foot web straps for securing the patient to the device.
    • (2) One padded board splint, 54 inches by 3 inches by 3/8 inch thick with a minimum of one-half inch foam padding on one side covered with a nonporous material.
    • (3) Two padded boards, 36 inches by 3 inches by 3/8 inch thick (cardboard, other malleable or inflatable splints are acceptable substitutes) with a minimum of one-half inch foam padding on one side covered with a nonporous material.
    • (4) Two padded boards, 15 inches by 3 inches by 3/8 inch thick (padded wire, cardboard or inflatable splints are acceptable substitutes) with a minimum of one-half inch foam padding on one side covered with a nonporous material.
    • (5) A head immobilization device (commercially manufactured device), blanket collar, two five-pound sandbags or other device providing equivalent immobilization of the head.
    • (6) One large, one medium and one small extrication collar.
  • (d) Wound dressings:
    • (1) Twenty-four sterile gauze pads, four inches by four inches.
    • (2) Three rolls adhesive tape in assorted sizes.
    • (3) Six rolls conforming gauze bandages in assorted sizes, but including three-inch.
    • (4) Two universal dressings approximately 10 inches by 30 inches.
    • (5) Ten large sterile dressings, five inches by eight inches minimum.
    • (6) One pair bandage shears.
    • (7) Six triangular bandages.
    • (8) Two liquid glucose or equivalent.
    • (9) Sterile normal saline in plastic containers (1,000 cc minimum).
    • (10) Two occlusive dressings.
    • (11) Two sterile burn sheets.
  • (e) Miscellaneous equipment:
    • (1) Spare pillow, four sheets, two pillow cases, one blanket, in addition to linen and pillow on cot(s) or litter(s).
    • (2) Six cloth hand towels.
    • (3) One box facial tissues.
    • (4) Two emesis containers.
    • (5) Portable blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.
    • (6) One male urinal and one bedpan.
    • (7) Potable water, minimum five gallons.
    • (8) Sterile O.B. kit.
    • (9) Carrying case with compartments for essential emergency care equipment (jump kit).
    • (10) One flashlight in operable condition.
    • (11) One battery lantern in operable condition.
    • (12) Communication equipment--two-way radio or telephone between the emergency health care facility and an outside medical facility(s).
    • (13) Six chemical ice packs.
  • (f) Other miscellaneous requirements:
    • (1) an ambulance used to meet the requirements of an emergency health care facility must be certified and equipped pursuant to sections 800.21, 800.22, 800.23 and 800.24 of this Title and must remain onsite at all times during the event except when transporting patients;
    • (2) an emergency health care facility shall place a placard or sign of such size and design at such location as will assure notice to the public of the emergency health care facility's identity as such; and
    • (3) an emergency health care facility shall be maintained at such temperature as will not endanger its ability to care for or will not further compromise the condition of either hypothermic or hyperthermic patients requiring emergency care.

18.3 Permit required to hold or promote a public function

  • (a) No person shall hold or promote, by advertising or otherwise, a public function unless a permit has been issued for said function by the permit-issuing official.
  • (b) Application for a permit to promote or hold a public function shall be made to the permit-issuing official, on a form and in a manner prescribed by the State Commissioner of Health, by the owner/lessor of the land or facility, and the person who will promote or hold the public function. Application for a permit to promote or hold a public function shall be made at least five days before the first day of advertising and at least 30 days before the first day of the event. The application shall be accompanied by an emergency medical services operational plan complying with the requirements of this Part and any supplemental plans, reports and specifications as the permit-issuing official shall require because of concerns raised by specific circumstances pertaining to the event. In addition, the applicant shall attach to its application a copy of the crowd control plan filed or required to be filed by it with the New York State Emergency Management Office pursuant to chapter 288 of the laws of 1988.
  • (c) A permit shall be valid for the time period specified thereon.
  • (d) A permit may be revoked by the permit-issuing official or the State Commissioner of Health for failure to comply with the terms of the permit.
  • (e) A permit issued for the operation of a public function shall be posted in the emergency health care unit or function office and be made available on request.
  • (f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the foregoing subdivisions of this section, a permit shall not be required under this Part for an event which also constitutes a mass gathering subject to the permit requirements of Part 7 of this Chapter; provided, however, that all of the other requirements of this Part shall be applicable thereto.

18.4 Emergency Health Care Requirements

  • (a)
    • (1) For 5,000 to 15,000 attendees, there shall be one emergency health care facility onsite staffed by a minimum of two emergency medical technicians, one ambulance onsite staffed by at least one emergency medical technician, and the services of a physician available to the site within 15 minutes. Documentation shall be provided showing that local, municipal and public safety officials, including police, fire and local emergency medical services personnel have been advised of the event in writing.
    • (2) For 15,001 to 30,000 attendees, there shall be two emergency health care facilities onsite, each staffed by two emergency medical technicians, one ambulance onsite, staffed by at least one emergency medical technician and the services of a physician available to the site within 15 minutes. Documentation shall be provided showing that local, municipal and public safety officials, including police, fire and local emergency medical services personnel have been advised of the event in writing.
    • (3) For 30,001 to 50,000 attendees, there shall be two emergency health care facilities onsite, each staffed by two emergency medical technicians, two ambulances onsite, each staffed by at least one emergency medical technician, and a physician onsite. Documentation shall be provided showing that local, municipal and public safety officials, including police, fire and local emergency medical services personnel have been advised of the event in writing.
    • (4) For over 50,000 attendees, there shall be two emergency health care facilities onsite, each staffed by two emergency medical technicians, three ambulances onsite, each staffed by at least one emergency medical technician, a physician onsite and a written statement shall be available describing the impact the event will have on public safety and emergency medical services in the area, which must include comments by local police, fire, emergency medical services personnel and other public safety officials who have jurisdiction to provide services.
  • (b) Any modifications of staffing or the method of providing emergency health care facilities or the onsite ambulance requirement of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of this section is subject to approval of the permit-issuing official.
  • (c) Additional emergency medical services, ambulance service, equipment, supplies and personnel, as the permit-issuing official may require because of special circumstances, including but not limited to the location and nature of the event, accessibility to existing emergency medical services systems, access and weather conditions shall be made available.
  • (d) A chronological log and individual record for each patient receiving emergency medical care shall be maintained on a form prescribed by the permit-issuing official. A copy of each report and the log are to be maintained on file by the function sponsor for seven years and available to the department upon request.
  • (e) Advanced life support (ALS) services may be substituted for the physician on call or site if the ALS is at the 3 or 4 level as described in section 800.45(d) of this Title and with the approval of the permit-issuing official.
  • (f) The permit holder shall file any report, following the event, as may be required by the permit-issuing official.

18.5 Miscellaneous requirements

Bleachers or similar structures at a public function must be safe. If the public function is also a place of public assembly or other place or activity subject to regulation by the New York State Department of Labor, then the permit-issuing official may seek information from that agency to aid evaluation of the safety of such structures.

18.6 Unexpected Attendance

In the event that actual attendance at a public function shall exceed the estimate used for determining the required equipment, supplies and personnel by more than 20 percent, it shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to provide immediately the additional sanitary facilities, medical equipment, supplies and personnel required.