ROLLAG (Aftenposten): Firefighters providing emergency care risk having to pay compensation in the event of treatment errors. Now they fear weakened preparedness and “US conditions.”
It is no coincidence that we are in Numedal. Here the conditions are small and the distances large. 6,500 inhabitants are scattered in the valley. In other words, a bit like it happens all over Norway. In the event of an accident here, the firefighters are often the first to respond.
That is why firefighters in local fire services are trained as so-called emergency responders over the whole country. The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation is the foundation of the training.
This way, firefighters can get out and help before an ambulance or other medical personnel arrive. It also means that firefighters who have this course can be called on medical missions as well.
An example: Firefighters may be called for cardiac arrest if the ambulance is some distance away.
There is only one problem: Firefighters who volunteer to become such emergency responders may risk being liable for compensation if a handling error occurs during the emergency assignment.
This means that the voluntary system is in danger of collapsing, believes the fire chief of the Rollag municipality in Numedal.
Read the whole story with a subscription
