Bill > S0144

This bill amends South Carolina law to allow firefighters to transport patients in non-ambulance vehicles under specific emergency circumstances. Currently, the law provides several exemptions to ambulance transportation regulations, and this bill adds a new provision that permits firefighters to transport patients to healthcare facilities when emergency medical service (EMS) providers are not immediately available. Specifically, a firefighter may transport a patient in a non-ambulance vehicle if two conditions are met: first, the appropriate EMS provider is notified about the patient's emergency condition, and second, licensed ambulances in the local area are insufficient or unavailable to provide immediate emergency medical services. This change recognizes that firefighters, who are often first responders, may need to take immediate action to transport a patient suffering from a critical medical condition when traditional ambulance services cannot quickly reach the scene. The bill would take effect upon receiving the Governor's approval, providing firefighters with more flexibility to potentially save lives in urgent medical situations.

Health and Social Services

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=144&session=126&summary=B