Helping in a Medical Emergency

As part of BGSU’s Community of Care, we seek to assist our fellow community members who are in need. Members of the BGSU community, including faculty, staff, and students, are able to assist others in a medical emergency.  The first step is always to call 911.  Then, depending on the helper’s level of comfort, assistance may include helping a person take their own life-saving medication (such as an epi-pen or inhaler), administering CPR, or activating the use of an AED.

Ohio has a law to provide protections to bystanders who assist others in need. Section 2305.23 of the Ohio Revised Code (Liability for Emergency Care) states:

No person shall be liable in civil damages for administering emergency care or treatment at the scene of an emergency outside of a hospital, doctor's office, or other place having proper medical equipment, for acts performed at the scene of such emergency, unless such acts constitute willful or wanton misconduct.

Nothing in this section applies to the administering of such care or treatment where the same is rendered for remuneration, or with the expectation of remuneration, from the recipient of such care or treatment or someone on his behalf. The administering of such care or treatment by one as a part of his duties as a paid member of any organization of law enforcement officers or fire fighters does not cause such to be a rendering for remuneration or expectation of remuneration.

Ohio Revised Code 2305.23: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.23