Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-4.1-1. Declaration of policy and purpose

(a) The general assembly declares that it is the policy of the state to save lives and speed the healing of persons injured in accidents or otherwise in need of medical service by providing an emergency care system that will bring the injured or sick person under the care of persons properly trained to care for the injured or sick in the shortest practical time and that will provide safe transportation for the injured or sick person to a treatment center prepared to receive the injured person.

(b) It is the purpose of this chapter to promote this policy by providing the means by which the best possible first aid treatment can be brought to the injured or sick person in the shortest practical time and by which the injured or sick person can be safely transported to a medical treatment center in proper equipment that is designed to provide supportive care for the injured or sick person and which is able to communicate with the medical treatment center regarding the treatment of the injured or sick person.

(c) It is the plan of this chapter to provide help for any scheme of emergency medical service that provides trained personnel, furnishes adequate equipment, and which furnishes emergency medical service to the public.

(d) It is not the intent of this chapter to prevent the operation of any nonprofit ambulance service which meets the minimum standards as provided by this chapter for the training of ambulance personnel and for medical service equipment.