“Well, if Good Samaritan laws don't already shield you, then perhaps it's time to mount a push to get them changed. I'm surprised though; on 09-11-01 there must have been thousands of private citizens helping out. Why were there not thousands of lawsuits? I know the settlement covered the airlines, but what about the citizenry? Could not the threat of litigation be a bit overblown? Maybe it's just another excuse for the powers-that-be to keep citizens uninvolved.”

Good Samaritan Laws will not protect any EMS provider, volunteer or career, who turns patient care over to an individual without equal training, it is called “patient abandonment”. A provider may, if the patient’s condition warrants, downgrade the level of care required and turn the patient over to another provider with a lesser level of training. However, if the provider did not appropriately evaluate the patient, before downgrading or if the patient takes a turn for the worse, the higher-level provider will be held accountable both civilly and possibly criminally. The events of 09-11-01 were extraordinary and fall under Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) protocols, which allow for a great deal of flexibility in emergency care. As to lawsuits, I really don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if there are some, perhaps not being publicized.

“Sorry, that's just not possible for many of us, at least right now. I chose a different career long ago, and I'm not going to be able to become an EMT or a fireman at this stage of my life. And the time available to me for volunteering is going to be negligable--at least for the next little while. I must therefore remain an amateur. I just want to make sure I can contribute if needed. I do hope to take first aid refresher sometime soon.”

You need not become an EMT or Firefighter to be of value. The already mentioned CERTs are a wonderful way to be of service. Helping out at a local Fire Department, EMS, Red Cross, Scouting or any other service related organization, whether with “hands on rescue’, fund raising, record keeping or hundreds of other necessary, but behind the scenes activities are all vital ways, we the citizenry can maintain control over our lives, at least on a local level. I too, am an amateur, like thousands of other volunteers; we do what we do for the love of doing it.

Pete