PRINTER'S NO. 1427
No. 1205 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY LETTERMAN, A. K. HUTCHINSON, PETRARCA AND BERLIN,
JUNE 6, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 6, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of September 9, 1965 (P.L.498, No.252),
2 entitled, as amended, "An act exempting certain firemen,
3 policemen, volunteer ambulance and rescue squad personnel and
4 National Ski Patrol personnel from civil liability when
5 rendering emergency care, first aid and rescue in the
6 performance of their duties except in certain instances,"
7 extending the provisions of the act.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. The title and section 1, act of September 9, 1965
11 (P.L.498, No.252), entitled, as amended, "An act exempting
12 certain firemen, policemen, volunteer ambulance and rescue squad
13 personnel and National Ski Patrol personnel from civil liability
14 when rendering emergency care, first aid and rescue in the
15 performance of their duties except in certain instances,"
16 amended June 17, 1971 (P.L.169, No.14), are amended to read:
17 AN ACT
18 Exempting certain [firemen, policemen, volunteer ambulance and
19 rescue squad personnel and National Ski Patrol personnel]
20 persons from civil liability when rendering emergency care,
1 first aid and rescue [in the performance of their duties]
2 except in certain instances.
3 Section 1. Any [fireman, policeman, member of a volunteer
4 ambulance or rescue squad or member of the National Ski Patrol]
5 person who renders emergency care, first aid or rescue [while in
6 the performance of his duties] at the scene of an emergency, or
7 moves the person receiving such care, first aid and rescue to a
8 hospital or other place of medical care, shall not be liable to
9 such person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or
10 omissions in rendering the emergency care, first aid or rescue,
11 or moving the person receiving the same to a hospital or other
12 place of medical care, except any acts or omissions
13 intentionally designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts or
14 omissions which result in harm to the person receiving the
15 emergency care, first aid or rescue, or being moved to a
16 hospital or other place of medical care, but nothing herein
17 shall relieve a driver of an ambulance or other emergency or
18 rescue vehicle from liability arising from operation or use of
19 such vehicle. In order for [any fireman, policeman, member of a
20 volunteer ambulance or rescue squad or member of the National
21 Ski Patrol] such person to receive the benefit of the exemption
22 from civil liability provided for in this act, he must [first
23 have taken and successfully completed a standard first aid
24 course recognized or approved by the American Red Cross and
25 further he shall have a valid certification from the American
26 Red Cross that he has successfully completed any necessary
27 training or refresher courses, or shall have successfully
28 completed a first aid course having standards at least equal to
29 a first aid course recognized or approved by the American Red
30 Cross.] be, at the time of rendering the emergency care, first
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1 aid or rescue the holder of a certificate evidencing his
2 successful completion of a course in first aid or basic life
3 support sponsored by the American National Red Cross or the
4 American Heart Association or an equivalent course of
5 instruction approved by the Secretary of Health in consultation
6 with a technical committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health
7 Services Council and must be performing techniques and employing
8 procedures consistent with the nature and level of the training
9 for which the certificate has been issued.
10 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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