S.A. Fire Dept To Respond to Medical Emergencies
By Michael Autry
Fire Departments will routinely respond to medical emergencies, along with a dispatched ambulance, to
assist EMTs in lifting and carrying patients, to assist with equipment, and sometimes to drive the
ambulance to the hospital so both EMTs are free to work on the patient in the back.
The result of a Monday-night business meeting at the Santa Anna Fire Department will be the volunteer
firefighters being paged out to respond to medical emergencies to assist the ambulance sent from
Coleman.
The Coleman Police Department, who handles the 911 system for Coleman County, had previously paged
out the “Santa Anna First Responders” to assist the Ambulance during a medical emergency, but these
pages recently stopped happening. Controversy surfaced when, according to the Coleman Police
Department, they had to discontinue their calling of the “Santa Anna First Responders” for liability
reasons.
As the 911 dispatcher, the Coleman Police Department is responsible for sending emergency workers to a
scene, but Coleman Police Chief Jay Moses reports that he was concerned about the department’s liability
for sending the “Santa Anna First Responders.”
State Law defines a “First Responder Organization” as “...a group or association of certified emergency
medical services personnel that works in cooperation with a licensed emergency medical services provider
to: 1) routinely respond to medical emergency situations; 2) utilize personnel who are emergency medical
services (EMS) certified by the Texas Department of Health (department); 3) provide on-scene patient
care to the ill and injured; and 4) does not transport patients...”
Chief Moses reports that the “Santa Anna First Responders” are not actually a licensed and/or recognized
organization, and the individuals do not have the necessary certifications by the Texas Department of
Health. Therefore, he has been concerned about the liability of dispatching these volunteers to provide
medical care in the field.
Basically, those who called themselves the “Santa Anna First Responders” are all members of the Santa
Anna Fire Department, and were being paged out via Santa Anna Fire Department pagers.
Present at Monday’s meeting were members of the Santa Anna Volunteer Fire Department, along with
Coleman Police Chief Jay Moses, Santa Anna Police Chief Carlos Torres, and Coleman County Judge
Jimmie Hobbs.
After opening ceremonies and other fire department business, a discussion kicked off involving the “Santa
Anna First Responders” not being paged out for medical calls. Chief Moses reported to the group that he
was notified by Coleman County EMS in January that the Santa Anna First Responders were not licensed
and certified. He continued on by saying that he terminated (for now) the calling of the First Responders
in Santa Anna as he was unable to get a solid answer on who they were, what their license and/or
certifications are, and who they are affiliated with.
Chief Moses had consulted with the Coleman City Attorney, the Coleman County Attorney, and an Attorney
in Austin who represents the Coleman hospital. The concerns of the attorneys were that the Coleman
Police Department could hold legal liability if they direct people to go to a medical emergency if they are
not licensed or certified, and/or are not affiliated with a recognized First Responder Organization, in the
case that something goes wrong with a patient.
Apparently, the laws surrounding the subject of first responders, and where liability may land if something
goes wrong is a little foggy. If a random person happens upon an accident, attempts to render aid before
emergency workers arrive, and something goes wrong, they are protected by the “Good Samaritan” law.
But, if a person is directed to respond to a medical emergency, the “Good Samaritan” law does not apply,
according to the involved attorneys. So, Police Chief Moses was concerned about dispatching responders
who could not technically be classified as being part of a First Responders Organization, and were not
certified as EMTs, as defined by state law.
As the discussion continued, a simple solution to the problem surfaced. All in attendance agreed that
having local “first responders” was beneficial. Whether an ambulance is dispatched from Coleman or
Brownwood in an emergency, it will take several minutes for the EMTs to arrive. Having local volunteers
who are able to respond quicker is certainly helpful in many cases. So, the Santa Anna Fire Department,
along with Coleman Police Chief Jay Moses, Santa Anna Police Chief Carlos Torres, and Coleman County
Judge Jimmie Hobbs agreed that paging the Santa Anna Fire Department, instead of the “Santa Anna First
Responders” would satisfy all concerned parties.
The end result left everyone satisfied, and Chief Moses indicated that he would direct his 911 dispatchers
to begin paging out the Santa Anna Fire Department to respond to medical emergencies in and around
Santa Anna, to assist the responding ambulance.
Further discussion indicated that the Santa Anna volunteer firefighters are either in the process of, or are
going to begin receiving some level of medical training by Guardian EMS in Brownwood. This training may
eventually lead to the volunteers being recognized as a First Responders Organization. But, for now,
being paged out to medical calls as a fire department seems to satisfy all those involved and concerned.
So, residents in and around Santa Anna can continue to expect reliable ambulance service to the area,
along with response from the Santa Anna Fire Department in the cases of fire, medical emergency, and
automobile accidents.