Removal of Burn Ointment From First-Aid Kits

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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