By Gina Greco
On Tuesday, the Town of Webb Board adopted a resolution to incorporate a change in State Municipal Law that would cover volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers in the Town of Webb Fire District No. 1, the Old Forge Ambulance Corp., and the Big Moose Ambulance Corp.
In December, Governor Cuomo signed a law that protects volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers from potential liability when they volunteer at an out-of-district accident before an office in charge accepts their services at the scene.
This law will go into effect on Monday, June 15th.
Presently, a volunteer acting as a “good samaritan” has no coverage if injured before the officer in charge accepts the volunteer’s help.
“An example of this would be an accident or a fire on Uncas Road, where Eagle Bay could possibly get there before Inlet. Once Inlet arrives, they would take control of the scene,” Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle said.
If further assistance is needed by the volunteer after the officers in control arrive, they will be fully covered throughout the scene, according to Riehle.
However, if the assistance is not accepted, then the volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance worker must immediately cease providing any additional services.
“We certainly want to protect all of our volunteer EMS people,” Riehle said.