In 2008 a California woman, Ms Watson, pulled her friend, Ms Horn, from a vehicle that had struck a lightpost. Horn became paralyzed as a result, and so she sued Watson for damages. Watson claimed protection under the state's Good Samaritan Law, which releases from liability anyone who accidently injures another while providing emergency medical assistance.

The local Superior Court ruled in favor of Watson, but the Appellate Court overturned that decision, finding that the GS Law pertained to medical assistance only. A rescue, such as extricating a person from a vehicle, is not medical assistance. The state's Supreme Court upheld that ruling.

The state legislature has since passed AB-38, which changed the GS Law to include "non-medical assistance". As a volunteer EMT, with little protection under the GS Law, I am quite greatful for the change in that law.

I do wish that people would not try to do medical things they've seen only in movies. A condition known as 'flail chest', where three or more ribs are broken in two or more places, is most often caused by improperly performed CPR. [We never punch a patient in the chest ("precordial thump") unless that patient is already connected to a heart monitor and the thump can be delivered within seconds of the patient going flatline. The thump delivers a small electrical charge.]

A CPR class includes how to tell when someone does not need CPR. Whereas with rescue breathing, a person who allows you to breathe for them - probably needs you to breathe for them.


Sept. 2: First responders with the FDNY and NYPD say the motorcycle rider pinned under a car after an accident in Brooklyn yesterday morning died from injuries sustained during the crash—not because the car slipped off its jack during the rescue attempt. The Ford Taurus that hit him had been raised up about four feet when it fell, and a witness says she saw firefighters arguing with each other.