Section 39-21.1-8 - Emergency services included in system(a) The 911 system shall be capable of transmitting requests for law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical and ambulance services to a public safety agency or agencies that provide the requested service at the place where the call originates. In response to requests for emergency medical or ambulance services, the 911 system dispatchers shall also provide for the communication of instructions to callers during the period before the arrival of emergency responders. By September 1, 2022, the 911 system shall include telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("T-CPR"), provided by certified emergency medical dispatchers (EMD) who have satisfactorily completed a training course that meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD); National Standard Curriculum, as from time to time amended, and any other requirements pursuant to § 23-4.1-3(c). The 911 system may also provide for transmittal of requests for other emergency services, such as poison control, suicide prevention, and civil defense. Conferencing capability with counseling, aid to persons with disabilities, and other services as deemed necessary for emergency response determination may be provided by the 911 system.(b) Any unit of any agency or municipality in this state that provides law enforcement, firefighting, medical, or ambulance services to an area shall be part of the 911 system. The 911 public safety answering point may transmit emergency response requests to private safety agencies.(c) Automatic intrusion alarms and other automatic alerting devices shall not be installed so as to cause the number 911 to be dialed in order to directly access emergency services.(d) A comprehensive call review and quality improvement program including, but not limited to, all cardiac arrest and critical calls as well as a random sampling of all calls from the emergency telephone system shall be established.(e) All 911 system dispatchers shall be certified in EMD and trained in telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("T-CPR") to coach a person calling in about a cardiac arrest incident until the rescue or other emergency service unit arrives. EMD continuing education shall be provided for 911 system dispatchers.(f) No 911 system operator who renders emergency assistance to a person in need thereof shall be liable for civil damages that result from acts or omissions by the person rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct.R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21.1-8
Amended by 2021 Pub. Laws, ch. 83, § 1, eff. 6/23/2021.Amended by 2021 Pub. Laws, ch. 82, § 1, eff. 6/23/2021.P.L. 1986, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 236, §1; P.L. 1999 , ch. 83, § 90; P.L. 1999 , ch. 130, § 90.