Kent County Chiefs Association

& Kent County EMS Council

EMS Apparatus Standards

Subject: BLS First Responder Unit Standard

EMS Apparatus Standard

# 1-4-2

Approved

2011

Approved by: President James L. Price, Jr.

                    President Jason Lobley

Revised

September 2025

BLS FIRST RESPONDER UNIT STANDARDS

1. All BLS First Responder Unit to be numbered EMS with a 1-digit number per your station unless your company also runs an Ambulance then the unit to be numbered EMS with a 2-digit number that does not correspond with the Company’s Ambulances.

            Example:  EMS 2-1, EMS 3-1, EMS 4, EMS 5-1, EMS 6, EMS 7-3, EMS 8-4.

B.  The vehicle shall consist of a motorized piece of apparatus of minimum capacity to

  carry the equipment named below without being overloaded.  The vehicle current

   meet DOT specifications and shall not exceed chassis manufacturer's G.V.W.  It must

   be registered as an emergency vehicle and meet all codes of the Maryland Motor

   Vehicle Administration or its successors.

C.  BLS First Responder Units shall be equipped as follows.

• Must remain compliant with all updates and additions to the “Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service System” Voluntary Ambulance Inspection Program for BLS First Responder Unit, and complete recertification Bi-Annually in accordance with MIEMSS.

D.  All loose equipment shall be mounted in brackets and fastened to the apparatus.

• Safety Equipment

1.       Two – Wheel Chocks, mounted in a readily accessible location, that together will hold the apparatus, when loaded to its GVWR or GCWR, on hard surface with 20 precent grade with transmission in neutral and the parking brake released.

2.      One traffic vest for each seating position, each vest to comply with ANSI/ISEA 207, Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests, and have a five-point breakaway feature that includes two at the shoulders, two at the sides, one at the front.

a.      Traffic vest may be part of the members issued PPE, at which point would       not be required to be carried on the apparatus.

3.      Five (5) fluorescent orange traffic cones not less than 28-in. height, each equipped with a 6-in. retro-reflective white band no more than 4-in. from the top of the cone, and additional 4-in. retro-reflective white band 2-in. below the 6-in. band.

4.      One (1) roll of fire-line tape and/or caution tape.

5.      Apparatus shall have an audible back-up alarm.

6.      One (1) CO Detector/Monitor attached to the BLS bag.

• Radios and Reference Materials

1.  One (1) two-way radio to meet county standards.

2. Two (2) portable radio to meet county standards.

3. One (1) current Kent County Map Book

4. One (1) Map Book for all surrounding counties in which the company responds to an alarm.

5. One (1) GPS or Tablet made be used in place of items 3 and 4.\

6. One (1) Emergency Guidebook (ERG).

• Suggested Items

1. One (1) 75-ft. throw rope bag.

2. Minimum of two (2) life jackets.

3. One (1) flat head axe for forcible entry.

4. One (1) Halligan type tool for forcible entry.

5. One (1) pair of bolt cutters.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Charles Boyles

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Albert (Bert) Piasecki, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on ___October 20th, 2025____________

Compliance Date ____November 19th, 2025_________________________________________

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