WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Responders have revived legislation that will permit notification of personnel exposed to HIV or other serious illnesses.
On Friday, President Obama signed the Ryan White legislation that includes the provision allowing hospitals to notify personnel about certain exposures within 48 hours.
When the bill was revised in 2006, the section allowing hospitals to tell first responders if their health could be in jeopardy was eliminated. The EMS community was not asked about the measure, and it was dropped.
Since then, EMS officials have been on a mission to get it reinstated.
And, even though Obama signed the bill, the work is not finished just yet, said Lisa Meyer, of Cornerstone Government Affairs.
The legislation states that in the event of a federally-declared public health emergency, the HHS Secretary may wholly or partially waive the notification.
"We think it's important that people be notified if they have been exposed," Meyer said. "We are willing to waive the 48-hour rule. But, not notification entirely…"
Meyer said EMS and fire officials will be meeting with administration staff to discuss the matter.
Officials involved with the EMS Section of the IAFC have been active with helping get the legislation corrected.
"This legislation is so instrumental to the safety and wellbeing of our firefighters and paramedics, especially during critical times such as this when we see a rise in emerging diseases," Chief Garry Ludwig, EMS Section chair said in a prepared statment.
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2 comments postedAlright my fellow
Alright my fellow municipality workers, here is the question that I submit to all of you: We are to be notified of any type of exposures that is a risk to our health, but what about our most recent illness to come across our path! The H1N1 virus meets the credentials of being a serious illness and is a direct concern to all of us working in the field. Yet, many of our employers feel that if we are exposed and contract the illness, the time off of work that we will need to recover is not considered a "workman's comp" case. God for bid, if we are struck down with the illness and have a catastrophic reaction to the illness and end-up in the hospital or; fearfully worse, deceased, are they going to allow us to have the proper service and benefits to a LODD!
i thought that as per osha
i thought that as per osha they had to make us aware if we were exposed