§ 1003.22. First responder.

 (a)  Roles and responsibilities. A first responder may perform, at the scene of an emergency, enroute to a facility, or in an emergency setting in a facility, the BLS services in subsection (e) to stabilize and improve a patient’s condition until more highly trained personnel arrive. Following the arrival of more highly trained personnel, a first responder may continue to perform the BLS services within a first responder’s scope of practice as set forth in subsection (e) under the direction of more highly trained personnel. This section does not prohibit a first responder from providing BLS services as a good Samaritan.

 (b)  Certification.

   (1)  The Department will certify as a first responder an individual who meets the following qualifications:

     (i)   Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

     (ii)   Is 16 years of age or older.

     (iii)   Has successfully completed a first responder training course approved by the Department. The Department will publish annually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a list of courses leading to first responder certification.

     (iv)   Has passed a written examination for first responder certification prescribed by the Department, or has passed an examination which the Department has determined to be equivalent in both content and manner of administration.

     (v)   Has passed a practical test of first responder skills prescribed by the Department, or has passed an examination which the Department has determined to be equivalent in both content and manner of administration.

   (2)  A first responder’s certification is valid for 3 years, subject to disciplinary action under section 11(j.1) of the act (35 P. S. §  6931(j.1)) and §  1003.27 (relating to disciplinary and corrective action).

 (c)  Recertification. A first responder shall apply for recertification between 1 year and 60 days prior to expiration of the first responder’s certification from the Department. Failure to apply for recertification in a timely manner may result in the individual not being recertified before the prior certification expires. The Department will recertify as a first responder an individual who meets the following qualifications:

   (1)  Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

   (2)  Is or was previously certified as a first responder.

   (3)  Has successfully completed one of the following:

     (i)   The first responder practical skills and written knowledge examination prescribed by the Department.

     (ii)   The continuing education requirements applicable to first responders in §  1003.29(a) (relating to continuing education requirements).

 (d)  Certification by endorsement.

   (1)  For an individual who is 16 years of age or older and who is currently certified in another state as a first responder or as a person with similar responsibilities, the Department will endorse the following qualifications as equivalent to those in subsection (b):

     (i)   Successful completion of training curriculum which meets or exceeds the standards for the training course prescribed by the Department in subsection (b)(1)(iii).

     (ii)   Successful completion of a written examination for first responder certification, or an equivalent certification, which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the written examination prescribed by the Department under subsection (b)(1)(iv).

     (iii)   Successful completion of a practical skills examination for first responder certification, or an equivalent certification, which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the practical skills examination prescribed by the Department under subsection (b)(1)(v).

   (2)  An individual whose first responder certification or equivalent certification in another state is expired at the time of application may seek to have the satisfaction of paragraph (1)(i) endorsed as equivalent to the satisfaction of subsection (b)(1)(iii), but will not be considered by the Department for endorsement of qualifications under paragraph (1)(ii) or (iii), and shall successfully complete the first responder practical skills and written knowledge examinations prescribed by the Department after applying for certification through examination.

   (3)  Certification under this subsection is valid for 3 years. Upon expiration of that certification, the individual shall meet the requirements for recertification in subsection (c).

 (e)  Scope of practice.

   (1)  A first responder’s scope of practice includes the BLS services which may be performed by an ambulance attendant as set forth in §  1003.21(c) (relating to ambulance attendant), if the first responder has been trained to perform those services.

   (2)  A first responder’s scope of practice also includes other BLS services taught in a first responder training course approved by the Department, if the first responder has received training to perform those services, and is able to document having received the training, in one of the following:

     (i)   A first responder training course approved by the Department.

     (ii)   A course which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of a first responder training course preapproved by the Department.

     (iii)   A course for which the first responder may receive continuing education credit towards recertification.

   (3)  The Department will publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, at least annually, a list of the skills taught in first responder training courses most recently approved by the Department.

   (4)  If the approved course is not offered by the Department, the Department may exclude from the published list, skills taught which the Department determines are not appropriate services to be performed by a first responder. A first responder may not perform a skill taught in a course under paragraph (2)(ii) or (iii) if the Department does not include the skill in the list it publishes under paragraph (3).

   The provisions of this §  1003.22 amended September 1, 1995, effective September 2, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 3685; amended October 13, 2000, effective October 14, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5363. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256617) to (256618).

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  1003.23 (relating to EMT); and 28 Pa. Code §  1003.29 (relating to continuing education requirements).