When shall ambulances in Vietnam be allowed to use emergency signal?

When shall ambulances in Vietnam be allowed to use emergency signal?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 27/2017/TT-BYT stipulating uses of ambulance as follows:

Uses of ambulance

1. An ambulance may only be used for the following purposes:

a) Transportation of or picking up patients in need of emergency treatment;

b) Transportation of physicians, medical staff, medication, medical devices to aid in disaster emergency management, provision of emergency treatment for road accident victims and serve other urgent needs of the implementation of medical examination, prevention and epidemic prevention.

2. Do not use the ambulance for any other purposes other than those specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Warning devices of an ambulance may only be used under an unexpired license to use warning devices is issued by a competent authority and the ambulance is on a mission in compliance with regulations and law on road traffic.

4. Upon transporting patients in/out of the health facilities, the ambulance must comply with rules and instruction of the health facilities.

As regulations above, warning devices of an ambulance may only be used under an unexpired license to use warning devices is issued by a competent authority and the ambulance is on a mission in compliance with regulations and law on road traffic.

Are there any limit on speed of ambulances in Vietnam when they are on mission?

Pursuant to Article 22 of the Law on Road Traffic in 2008 stipulating priority rights of a number of vehicles as follows:

Priority rights of a number of vehicles

1. The following vehicles have the priority right to go before other vehicles when passing intersections from any direction of traffic in the following order:

a/ Fire engines traveling on duty;

b/ Military vehicles and police vehicles on urgent duty; motorcades led by police cars;

c/ Ambulances on duty;

d/ Dike-watch vehicles, vehicles employed in overcoming natural disasters or epidemics or in a state of emergency as prescribed by law;

e/ Funeral vehicle processions.

2. Vehicles specified at Points a, b, c and d of Clause 1, this Article, when traveling on duty, shall give signals by means of horn, banner and light according to regulations; are not restricted in speed; may enter one-way roads from the opposite direction and other roads open to traffic, even go through the red light, and must only follow the instructions of persons directing traffic.

The Government shall issue specific regulations on signals of priority vehicles.

3. When recognizing the signals of priority vehicles, road users shall promptly slow down, give way or pull in to the right edge of the carriageway to give way. They may not obstruct priority vehicles.

As regulations above, there is no limit on speed of ambulances in Vietnam that are on mission.

What are standards for ambulances in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 2 of the Circular 27/2017/TT-BYT stipulating standards for ambulances in Vietnam as follows:

- Standards for the equipment that have to be permanently installed on the outside of the ambulance:

+ Warning devices of emergency vehicles consisting of red rotating or flashing lights on the roof, and sirens. The licence to use warning devices on emergency vehicles shall be issued in compliance with regulations and law on road traffic;

+ Panels displaying information about the vehicle’s owner on both of the front doors shall have a minimum dimension of 45 x 50 cm (HxW). The panels must contain at least the following information:

++ Logo of the unit using the vehicle (if any): Minimum dimension of 18 x 18 cm (HxW).

++ Name, address and phone number of the health facility that is specified in Clause 2 Article 1 of this Circular.

++ The number of the Operation License issued by the competent authority.

- Standards for the equipments inside the ambulance:

- Main gurney: The sliding type, with seatbelt, and wheels;

- Seats for medical staff;

- Plastic flooring sheet: Non-slippery, easy to clean, sanitize, and sterilize;

- Interior lightings (for emergency treatment);

- IV hooks;

- 12V power sockets;

- Cabinets, shelves, drawers to install the medical devices that come together with oxygen mask, other medical devices, to contain medicines, emergency medical equipments to ensure execution, operation, cleaning, sanitizing, sterilization with ease.

- Emergency hammer;

- In addition, depending on practical situation and special requirements, health facilities can provide other necessary medical devices to aid the patients.

If paramedics are needed outside of the hospital, the ambulance must be prepared with an adequate amount of medicine and medical devices as specified in Decision No. 3385/QD-BYT dated September 18, 2012 of the Minister of Health on the List of medication, emergency equipment and equipment needed to perform paramedic procedure on the ambulance.

Best regards!