[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M