[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6938-6939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3977]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Parts 121, 125, and 135
[Docket No. 25154; Reference Amendments 121-236; 125-19; 135-47]
Removal of Burn Ointment From First-Aid Kits
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Disposition of comments to a final rule.
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SUMMARY: On January 12, 1994, the FAA published a final rule with
request for comments [59 FR 1780] that revised 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. The rule was effective upon publication and the
comment period closed March 14, 1994. This action responds to those
comments received as a result of that final rule and completes that
rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Davis, Regulatory Branch, Air
Transportation Division, Flight Standards Service, FAA, 800
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone: (202) 267-
3747.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 5, 1986, the Air Transport Association (ATA) submitted
[[Page 6939]]
a petition to delete the 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 the supporting data, the petition included a
request from Western Airlines to delete the burn ointment from their
first aid kits and instructions from other carriers' flight manuals
advising flight attendants not to use the burn ointment unless
requested to do so by passengers. ATA stated that the burn ointment
normally has an expiration date, which requires replacement,
inspection, and record-keeping. Later, ATA submitted a letter to the
docket from the American Red Cross that supported their position that
burn ointment retains heat, causing the burn to worsen in some cases.
Additional information submitted by ATA noted that the March 1987
meeting of the ATA Cabin Safety Panel each member present stated that
cold water or ice, rather that the burn ointment, was the preferred
method of treatment for burns.
A summary of ATA's petition was published in the Federal Register
on February 20, 1987, [52 FR 5309]; the comment period closed April 20,
1987. The only comments received were those cited above.
In issuing a final rule removing the burn ointment from the first
aid kits, the FAA agreed with industry practice. It stated that in the
limited situation of treating minor burns aboard aircraft, cold water
is the preferred treatment. Therefore, the requirement for burn
ointment should be eliminated to spare air carriers the unnecessary
expense of having to maintain an unneeded item. Further, because that
final rule action was a minor amendment in which there was not expected
to be any public disagreement, the FAA found that public notice and
comment were unnecessary. Because it was relieving, the rule was made
effective upon publication.
Discussion of Comments Received
Two comments were received on the final rule. Water Jel
Technologies (Water Jel) comments that the revisions to the regulations
were timely; however, the recommendation is flawed and should be
amended to reflect the current protocol for the care of minor burns.
Water Jel believes that burns occur so frequently that some burn
preparations are necessary. This commenter urges the FAA to require
instead a water-based burn product for the first aid kit.
Industrial Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) comments that the
removal of burn compound from first aid kits is not justified by the
record, which cites the burden of maintaining the kits and the protocol
of treating minor burns. ISEA believes that the majority of burn
ointments and compounds sold in FAA kits are water-soluble products
that have no expiration dates. ISEA states that the pain-relieving
benefits of water soluble burn ointments clearly outweigh the cost of
maintaining them in first aid kits used on aircraft. ISEA recommends
that 14 CFR parts 121, 125, and 135 be amended to add the words `water
soluble' to the description of the burn ointment.
FAA Response to Comments
The FAA agrees with commenters that a water-based compound may
provide additional, longer lasting treatment for a burn until medical
attention is provided. The incidence of burns aboard aircraft, however,
does not support such a requirement. With the elimination of smoking
aboard aircraft, the vast majority of burns occur when hot beverages
are spilled. These are usually minor burns, and cold water provides
sufficient relief to passengers. Therefore, the FAA finds that the
final rule should be retained, as amended.
Issued in Washington, DC on February 13, 1996.
Thomas C. Accardi,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 96-3977 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
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