A proposed new standard being developed by ASTM International Committee F30 on Emergency Medical Services will be useful to medical equipment manufacturers, certification agencies and care providers, with patients being the ultimate beneficiaries.

The proposed new standard, ASTM WK27973, Specification for Environmental Performance of Medical Equipment for Use on Fixed and Rotary-Wing Aircraft, is being developed by Subcommittee F30.01 on EMS Equipment.

ASTM WK27973 addresses two primary areas: the effect of medical equipment on aircraft and the effect of the aviation environment on medical equipment. Khalid Barazanji, chief, Airworthinesss Certification and Evaluation Brach, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, and member, F30, says that the proposed standard will allow manufacturers to design safe medical equipment for the aeromedical environment; certification agencies will be able to recognize and/or adopt the standard and encourage its use.

“The proposed standard will allow state of the art medical equipment to be used safely in the aeromedical environment without negative effect on the aircraft, crew or patient,” says Pete Chambers, vice president and chief operating officer, Marketing Assessment Inc., and a member of F30. 

The subcommittee welcomes participation in the ongoing development of ASTM WK27973, particularly from medical device manufacturers, clinicians and certifying agencies as well as aircraft manufacturers.

ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

Technical Contact: Pete Chambers, Marketing Assessment Inc.,  Phone: 703-673-9003; pete@marketingassessment.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Scott Orthey, Phone: 610-832-9730; sorthey@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8671/Sept2010