Connecticut General Statutes/Title 19a/Chapter 368d/Section 19a-197a

CGS § 19a-197a. Administration of epinephrine.

(a) As used in this section, “emergency medical services personnel” means (1) any class of emergency medical technician certified pursuant to sections 20-206ll and 20-206mm, including, but not limited to, any advanced emergency medical technician, (2) any paramedic licensed pursuant to sections 20-206ll and 20-206mm, and (3) any emergency medical responder certified pursuant to sections 20-206ll and 20-206mm.

(b) Any emergency medical services personnel who has been trained, in accordance with national standards recognized by the Commissioner of Public Health, in the administration of epinephrine using automatic prefilled cartridge injectors, similar automatic injectable equipment or prefilled vial and syringe and who functions in accordance with written protocols and the standing orders of a licensed physician serving as an emergency medical services medical director shall administer epinephrine, if available, using such injectors, equipment or prefilled vial and syringe when the use of epinephrine is deemed necessary by the emergency medical services personnel for the treatment of a patient. All emergency medical services personnel shall receive such training in accordance with the national standards recognized by the commissioner, except an emergency medical responder, as defined in section 20-206jj, need only be trained to utilize means of administration of epinephrine that is within such responder's scope of practice, as determined in accordance with section 19a-179a.

(c) All licensed or certified ambulances shall be equipped with epinephrine in such injectors, equipment or prefilled vials and syringes to be administered as described in subsection (b) of this section and in accordance with written protocols and standing orders of a licensed physician serving as an emergency medical services medical director.

Short History

(P.A. 00-135, S. 16, 21; P.A. 09-232, S. 38; P.A. 15-223, S. 4; P.A. 23-97, S. 42; Sept. 26 Sp. Sess. P.A. 23-1, S. 6; P.A. 24-68, S. 15.)

Long History

History: P.A. 00-135 effective January 1, 2001; P.A. 09-232 redefined “emergency medical technician” in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 15-223 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “19a-179” with “20-206oo”; P.A. 23-97 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to “emergency medical technician” with “emergency medical services personnel”, replacing reference to “under regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-206oo” with “pursuant to sections 20-206ll and 20-206mm” in Subdiv. (1), adding reference to section 20-206mm in Subdiv. (2) and adding Subdiv. (3) re any emergency medical responder and amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to prefilled vials and syringes, changing authorization to administer epinephrine to a mandate, requiring Commissioner of Public Health to designate the organization that shall provide training and making technical and conforming changes; Sept. 26 Sp. Sess. P.A. 23-1 amended Subsec. (b) by permitting administration on or before June 30, 2024, and requiring administration on and after July 1, 2024, designating existing provisions re licensed or certified ambulances as Subsec. (c) and amending same by making technical changes; P.A. 24-68 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by replacing “emergency department director” with “emergency medical services medical director” and further amended Subsec.(b) by replacing “may administer, on or before June 30, 2024, and shall administer, on and after July 1, 2024, epinephrine” with “shall administer epinephrine, if available”, deleting provision requiring Commissioner of Public Health to designate organization that shall provide training and adding provision requiring training to be in accordance with national standards recognized by commissioner or, for emergency medical responders, within such responders' scope of practice effective July 1, 2024.

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