SB24: Motor medic pilot program; created in South Hampton Roads area.
Whereas, minimizing response time is a key factor in preventing fatalities and morbidity in incidents requiring emergency medical services; and
Whereas, medical professionals recognize the "golden hour" of emergency medical response in which rescue workers must restore life functions to a trauma patient to prevent fatal brain damage or irreversible shock; and
Whereas, heavy traffic in metropolitan areas increases the time in which rescue workers are able to respond to emergency situations and provide treatment, leading to higher rates of fatality and serious injury; and
Whereas, other metropolitan areas in the United States and around the world have reduced response time to emergencies by equipping rescue workers with motorcycles, enabling them to maneuver through traffic in heavily congested areas; and
Whereas, South Hampton Roads experiences heavy traffic congestion and a motor medic program would allow rescue workers to reach emergency situations more quickly; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. Motor medic pilot program for South Hampton Roads area.
A. The Board of Health shall develop a comprehensive, coordinated, motor medics pilot program in the South Hampton Roads area to implement the use of motorcycles by emergency medical services personnel as a type of emergency medical services vehicle. Such motorcycles may be equipped with flashing red or red and white warning lights as provided in § 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia and may, when being used in the performance of public services and being operated in response to an emergency, be exempt from certain highway regulations as provided in § 46.2-920 of the Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding any prohibition in § 46.2-1060 of the Code of Virginia, such vehicles may be equipped with sirens or other warning devices. Further, the driver of any other vehicle shall yield right-of-way to motorcycles serving as emergency medical services vehicles as provided in § 46.2-829 of the Code of Virginia.
B. The objectives of such program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Reducing the time period between the identification of an acutely ill or injured patient and the provision of the definitive treatment, and
2. Improving the delivery of emergency medical services and thereby decreasing morbidity, hospitalization, disability, and mortality.
C. For purposes of this Act, "South Hampton Roads area" shall mean the cities of Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Norfolk.