The American Society for Testing Materials F-30 Committee on EMS

The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) F-30 Committee on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) began creating voluntary consensus standards for EMS including air medical transport in 1984. The F-30 Committee is composed of more than 200 members who represent both the "producers" and the "users" of EMS. Approximately 10 of the 39 standards published by the F-30 Committee either deal directly or indirectly with air medical programs. The standards are refined through yearly evaluation and reviewed in detail every four years. Due to concerns with the ASTM process, several of the initial members resigned in 1988. Changes made to the scope and practice of the F-30 Committee have resulted in some of these participants returning to the process. New standards must be developed only after a "needs assessment" demonstrates that such a standard should exist. Relevant pre-existing standards must be reviewed. Clinical practice has been excluded from the work of the F-30 Committee. Air medical programs may participate as members of the F-30 Committee for a nominal yearly fee, which provides members with an updated book of standards. Meetings are held biannually. The Guide for Establishing the Qualifications, Education and Training of EMS Aeromedical Patient Care Providers is approaching its four-year review, and a number of other standards, which are of particular interest to the air medical community, are currently under development.