Schoesler bill changes law to aid rural ambulance services

Knowing that rural areas face special challenges when it comes to emergency responders, Sen. Mark Schoesler has successfully proposed a change in state law that eases the first aid-training requirement for volunteer ambulance drivers.

The governor signed Senate Bill 5751 last week following its unanimous passage by the Legislature. The change will take effect July 23.

State law requires an ambulance driver to have at least a first-aid certificate recognized by the state Department of Health, unless there are at least two emergency medical technicians present to attend to a patient.

That standa...