# Title 33 — State Department of Health

## Article 33-11 — Licensing of Emergency Medical Services

## Chapter 33-11-01.1 — North Dakota Quick Response Units

### § 33-11-01.1-01. Definitions.

Words defined in North Dakota Century Code chapter 23-27 shall have the same meaning in this
chapter. For purposes of this chapter:
1. "Department" means the department of health and human services.
2. "Driver" means an individual who operates a quick response unit vehicle.
3. "Driver's license" means the license as required under sections 39-06-01 and 39-06-02 of the
North Dakota Century Code.
4. "Emergency medical responder" means an individual who is certified as an emergency
medical responder by the department.
5. "Emergency medical technician" means an individual who is licensed as an emergency
medical technician by the department.
6. "Equivalent" means training of equal or greater value which accomplishes the same results as
determined by the department.
7. "Patient care provider" means a qualified individual on the quick response unit crew
responsible for the care of the patient.
8. "Personnel" means qualified patient care providers, or drivers, or both, within a quick response
unit service.
9. "Quick response unit run" means the response of a quick response unit vehicle and personnel
to an emergency or nonemergency for the purpose of rendering medical care to someone sick
or incapacitated, including canceled calls, no transports, and standby events where medical
care may be rendered.
10. "State radio" means the North Dakota department of emergency services division of state
radio located at Fraine barracks in Bismarck, North Dakota.
History: Effective January 1, 2008; amended effective July 1, 2010; April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04

### § 33-11-01.1-02. License required.

1. The license shall expire midnight on June thirtieth of the odd year following issuance. License
renewal shall be on a biennial basis.
2. A license is valid only for the service for which it is issued. A license may not be sold,
assigned, or transferred.
History: Effective January 1, 2008; amended effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-02
### § 33-11-01.1-03. Application for license.

Application for the license shall be made in the manner prescribed by the department.
History: Effective January 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-04. Issuance and renewal of licenses.

1. The department or its authorized agent may inspect the service. If minimum standards are
met, the department shall issue a license.
2. If minimum standards are not met, the department will allow the quick response unit
thirty days to comply with the standards. The department will work with the quick response
unit to obtain compliance.
History: Effective January 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-05. Availability of quick response unit.

Repealed effective July 1, 2010.
### § 33-11-01.1-06. Driver's license required.

All drivers of quick response unit vehicles shall have a current valid driver's license pursuant to
requirements under sections 39-06-01 and 39-06-02 of the North Dakota Century Code.
History: Effective January 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-07. Number of personnel required.

The minimum personnel required on each quick response unit run shall be one patient care
provider who may function as the driver and is certified as an emergency medical responder or its
equivalent.
History: Effective January 1, 2008; amended effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04

### § 33-11-01.1-08. Minimum equipment requirements.

The quick response unit shall have the following:
1. Automated external defibrillator.
2. Blood pressure manometer, cuff in child, adult, and large adult sizes; and stethoscope.
3. Disposable gloves - four pair of each size small, medium, and large.
4. One blunt shears.
5. One portable suction device with catheter.
6. One portable oxygen unit size "D" with variable flowmeter.
7. Two nasal cannulas and two nonrebreather masks with supply tubing.
8. Nasopharyngeal airways in adult and child sizes.
9. Oropharyngeal airways in adult, child, and infant sizes.
10. Two cold packs.
11. Four hot packs.
12. Two space blankets.
13. Twelve four-by-four sterile gauze pads.
14. Three sterile soft roller self-adhering bandages.
15. Four rolls of tape.
16. Two sterile occlusive dressings.
17. One sterile multitrauma dressing approximately ten inches [25.4 centimeters] by thirty-six
inches [91.44 centimeters].
18. One sterile burn sheet or its equivalent.
19. Equipment case.
20. Equipment storage - readily accessible and safe from the elements.
History: Effective January 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-09. Other requirements.

1. Personnel must be able to identify and locate all equipment items required to be carried in a
quick response unit.
2. All licensed quick response unit agencies shall keep the quick response unit vehicle and other
equipment clean and in proper working order.
3. All linens, airways, oxygen masks, nasal cannulas, and other equipment coming in direct
contact with the patient must be either a single-use disposable type or cleaned, laundered, or
disinfected after each use.

4. All licensed quick response units must either be affiliated with a licensed ambulance service,
as defined in chapter 33-11-02.1, that provides medical oversight for the quick response unit,
or upon approval by the department, have their own medical director not affiliated with an
ambulance service.
History: Effective January 1, 2008; amended effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-10. Quick response units performing advanced life support interventions.

Quick response units may provide advanced life support interventions on an as-needed basis if the
following requirements are met:
1. The primary care provider is licensed to provide the level of care required.
2. The service complies with the equipment list as set forth by its medical director.
3. A North Dakota licensed physician has authorized advanced life support interventions by
verbal or written order.
4. The transporting ambulance's primary care provider is licensed to provide or maintain any
advanced life support intervention provided by the quick response unit.
History: Effective January 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-11. Transporting of patients.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, quick response units may not transport
patients.
2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, quick response units may transport patients during a major
catastrophe or mass casualty incident if all of the following conditions are met:
a. An incident command system has been established and the incident commander has
authorized the use of quick response units to transport patients.
b. The ambulance services that normally provide service or mutual aid in the area of the
catastrophe or mass casualty incident are insufficient or unavailable to transport.
c. The primary care provider on the quick response unit must be an emergency medical
technician or its equivalent.
d. The quick response unit must rendezvous with a licensed ambulance service if one
becomes available during transport.
History: Effective January 1, 2008; amended effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
### § 33-11-01.1-12. Communications.

To ensure responder safety and a seamless integration with the broader public safety response
system, quick response units must have the following elements to their communications system:
1. They must have a radio call sign issued by state radio.

2. They must be dispatched directly from a public safety answering point by radio or pager.
3. They must have a radio capable of transmitting and receiving voice communications with the
local public safety answering point, law enforcement responders, fire responders, and other
public safety agencies on radio frequencies determined by state radio.
History: Effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 23-27-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-27-04
