[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-626]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 12, 1994]


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Part II





Department of Transportation





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Federal Aviation Administration



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14 CFR Part 121, et al.




Removal of Burn Compound From First-Aid Kits; Final Rule
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 121, 125, 135

[Docket No. 25154; Amendment No. 121-236; 125-19; 135-47]

 
Removal of Burn Compound From First-Aid Kits

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: This amendment revises the regulations concerning first aid 
kits required on board air carrier, air taxi, and commercial aircraft 
to remove the burn compound from the list of items required for the 
kits. This amendment responds to a petition from Air Transport 
Association, supported by the American Red Cross, that the burn 
compound be removed from the kits since the use of ice or cold water is 
the preferred treatment for minor burns. This amendment will relieve 
affected operators from the expense of having to periodically replace 
an item in the first aid kits that is not needed.

DATES: Effective date: January 12, 1994. Comments must be received on 
or before March 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments on the rule in duplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, Attn: 
Rules Docket (AGC-204), room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591. Comments may be examined in the Rules Docket 
weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gary Davis, Regulatory Branch, Air Transportation Division, Flight 
Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone: (202) 267-8096.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 5, 1986, the Air Transport Association (ATA) submitted 
a petition to delete burn compound (burn ointment) from the first-aid 
kits required to be carried on each aircraft operated under part 121 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations. In the petition ATA noted that the 
application of ice or cold water is the preferred treatment for minor 
burns. As part of its supporting data, the petition included a request 
from Western Airlines to delete burn ointment from their first aid 
kits. Also included in the petition were copies of instructions from 
flight manuals for several other airlines in which flight attendants 
were advised to use ice compresses for the treatment of burns and not 
to use the burn ointment unless it is requested by the passenger. In 
addition, ATA stated that burn ointment normally has an expiration 
date, which requires replacement, inspection, and record-keeping.
    On January 21, 1987, ATA submitted a second letter to the docket 
that transmitted an American Red Cross statement confirming their 
position that burn ointment retains heat within the wound, causing the 
wound to actually worsen in some cases. In addition, information 
provided by the Red Cross indicated that burn ointment must be removed 
before any other treatment can be applied.
    ATA submitted additional information on April 9, 1987, in which it 
cited the March 1987 ATA Cabin Safety Panel meeting where the subject 
of first-aid for minor burns was discussed. At that meeting, each panel 
member present stated that their flight attendants were trained to use 
cold water or ice rather than burn ointment, unless burn ointment was 
specifically requested by the passenger. Representatives of most of the 
major airlines were included in this group, constituting over 80 
percent of all the seat miles flown by the major airlines.
    By letter dated July 6, 1987, ATA submitted a comment from the 
School of Nursing at the University of Miami as an additional medical 
opinion. That letter, from an associate professor, stated that 
emergency care for burns should begin with stopping the burning process 
by applying cool water to stop the pain and slow the process of heat 
damage. This medical opinion also noted that application of ointments, 
oils, etc., should be avoided.
    The petition of ATA was published in the Federal Register on 
February 20, 1987 (52 FR 5309). The comment period closed April 20, 
1987. The only comments received on the petition are those cited above.
    By letter dated July 6, 1993, ATA petitioned on behalf of its 
member airlines and similarly situated operators for an exemption from 
the requirement to carry burn ointment in first aid kits as required by 
appendix A to part 121. A summary of that petition was published in the 
Federal Register on August 11, 1993, and the comment period closed 
August 31, 1993 (58FR42752). Two comments were received. The Air Line 
Pilots Association supports the removal of the ointment from first aid 
kits and notes that this removal would facilitate maintenance by 
eliminating the need for purchasing, stocking, record keeping, 
replacing, and disposing of the ointment. The Association of Flight 
Attendants (AFA) agrees that the removal of the ointment from first aid 
kits is an appropriate action; however, the AFA also suggests that the 
FAA should require an equivalent amount of an antibiotic ointment in 
its place. AFA adds that more recent information from the American Red 
Cross suggests that cool water or wet cloths is the first step in 
treatment, but that ice is not recommended except for minor burns.

The FAA's Analysis of the Petition

    The FAA agrees with industry practice. Serious burns can be 
properly treated only by professionals in a medical facility. Neither 
burn ointment nor cold water is, by itself, an adequate response to a 
major burn injury. The intent of the burn ointment requirement has 
always been to provide relief from minor burns caused by cigarettes or 
hot beverages.
    In the limited situation of treating minor burns aboard an 
aircraft, cold water is the preferred treatment. This treatment avoids 
the heat retentive properties of burn ointment. Moreover, if the wound 
requires further medical treatment, the use of ice or cold water 
eliminates the need to scrape the wound to remove burn ointment.
    Therefore, the FAA has determined that burn ointment should be 
deleted from the list of items required for first aid kits in parts 
121, 125, and 135. Ice or cold water is carried on aircraft operated 
under part 121 and on aircraft with 20 or more passenger seats operated 
under parts 125 and 135 to which aircraft the burn ointment requirement 
applies. This will spare air carriers the unnecessary expense of having 
to maintain an unneeded item.

Good Cause Justification

    In consideration of the fact that burn ointment is not the 
preferred treatment for minor burns, the requirement to carry burn 
ointment aboard aircraft is inappropriate. Most types of burn ointment 
have expiration dates, thus new ointment must be purchased, kits must 
be opened, the ointment replaced, kit resealed and re-installed, and a 
record of the action must be made. The cost of this process, with labor 
being far more expensive than the ointment itself, represents a 
significant nuisance burden for air carriers and commercial operators. 
ATA carriers are required to maintain over 10,000 kits. This is an 
unnecessary cost to the industry for which the consumer derives no 
benefit. It is clearly in the public interest to delete the 
requirement.
    Since this is a minor amendment in which there is not expected to 
be any public comment or disagreement from the medical community, the 
FAA finds that public notice and comment on this amendment is 
unnecessary. Moreover, because this amendment relieves a requirement, 
it should be made effective upon publication in the Federal Register. 
Interested persons, however, are invited to submit such comments as 
they may desire regarding this amendment. Correspondence should 
identify the docket number and be submitted in duplicate to the address 
provided above. All communications received on or before the close of 
the comment period will be considered by the Administrator, and this 
amendment may be changed in light of comments received. All comments 
will be available for public review, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the rules docket.

Trade Impact Statement

    The FAA finds that this amendment will have no impact on 
international trade.

Economic Assessment

    Because the amendment imposes no cost to operators, the only impact 
of this amendment is expected to be that carriers will experience some 
cost savings. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that the impact of 
this amendment is so minimal that a full regulatory evaluation is not 
warranted.

Federalism Implications

    The regulation adopted herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the states, on the relationship between the states, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels 
of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it 
is determined that this regulation would not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of the Federalism Assessment.

Paperwork Reduction

    This final rule is expected to produce a minor reduction in the 
record keeping requirements under parts 121, 125, and 135. The 
paperwork estimation for those parts will be revised accordingly.

Conclusion

    To the extent that this amendment will have an economic effect on 
the airlines and the general public, it will only be a minor, positive 
one. Therefore, the FAA has determined that this amendment involves a 
regulation that is not a significant regulatory action under Executive 
Order 12866 or significant under the Department of Transportation 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979). 
Since no small entities would be affected by the rule, the FAA has 
determined, and it is certified that under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small 
entities. The economic impact is so minimal that it does not warrant a 
full regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Parts 121, 125, 135

    Air safety, Air transportation, Aviation safety, Safety, 
Transportation, Cabin safety, First-aid kits.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, parts 121, 125, and 135 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 121) are amended as follows:

PART 121--CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND 
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS OF LARGE 
AIRCRAFT

    1. The authority citation for part 121 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1355, 1356, 1357, 1401, 1421-
1430, 1472, 1485, and 1502; 49 U.S.C. 106(g) (revised, Pub. L. 97-
449, January 12, 1983).

    2. In Appendix A to part 121, paragraph (5) is amended by removing 
the item ``Burn compound, \1/8\ ounce or an equivalent of other burn 
remedy, quantity 6'' and by moving the remaining six items in the list 
to the end of the list in paragraph (4).

PART 125--CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: AIRPLANES HAVING A SEATING 
CAPACITY OF 20 OR MORE PASSENGERS OR A MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF 
6,000 POUNDS OR MORE

    3. The authority citation for part 125 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 through 1430, and 1502; 
49 U.S.C. 106(g) (Revised Pub. L. 97-449, January 12, 1983.)


Sec. 125.207  [Amended]

    4. Section 125.207(a)(1)(iii) is amended by removing the item: Burn 
compound, \1/8\ oz or an equivalent of other burn remedy, quantity 6.

PART 135--AIR TAXI OPERATORS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS

    5. The authority citation for part 135 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1355(a), 1421 through 1431, 
and 49 U.S.C. 106(g) (Revised Pub. L. 97-449, January 12, 1983).


Sec. 135.177  [Amended]

    6. Section 135.177(a)(1)(iii) is amended by removing the item: Burn 
compound, \1/8\ oz or an equivalent of other burn remedy, quantity 6.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 5, 1994.
David R. Hinson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-626 Filed 1-11-94; 8:45 am]
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