Legal Issues

You, your search team and your volunteer organization share liability for all of the following EXCEPT:

Training.

Equipment.

Travel expenses such as gas & food.

Fitness for your mission role and assignment.

Which of the following does the "Good Samaritan" law NOT cover?

Only significant Omissions of duty (something you failed to do).

Only significant Commissions of duty (something you did).

Both significant Omissions and Commissions of duty.

Who issues a SAR DEM number for a mission in Washington State?

The responsible law enforcement agency.

County emergency management.

Washington State Emergency Management.

It's OK to perform medical care using techniques that you have not been trained in or are not authorized to perform by county protocol if you think it will save a person's life.

True. Save their life first and worry about everything else later.

False. I have a legal obligation to remain with my scope of practice. Exceeding that can present additional problems for the patient and expose me to criminal and civil liability.

Your first aid qualifications expired a year ago. It is OK to go on a mission:

As long as none of the subjects are injured.

Only if you stay in the command post.

Once you have renewed your first aid qualifications.

If you are an EMT from another state.

In Washington State, who has authority to determine the need for a mission?

The first SAR unit at the scene.

The operations leaders for the primary SAR unit in the mission.

The responsible law enforcement agency from the jurisdiction the mission is occurring in.

Use of Incident Command System on missions is mandated by Washington State Law.

True

False

It's OK to go to a mission with my leg in a cast, after all I can just do paperwork in base.

True

False

During Search and Rescue efforts, if your team is in a hurry to find related evidence, it is permissible to enter a building where access is controlled without the permission of the owner or manager of the structure, because the Sheriff's office will cover for us.

True. The mission is important and we have the authority of the Sheriff’s office behind us.

False. Without permission, a court order would be needed to legally search private property.

Which color of emergency lighting is allowed on volunteer search and rescue vehicles under Washington State Law?

Amber and white.

Red and blue.

Green.

Amber.

Portal to portal liability coverage means...

I am covered while responding on a mission until I return home, immediately following the mission.

I am covered while responding on a mission until I return home, eventually sometime after the mission. A leisurely stop for dinner and a movie after the mission is OK, since I am still covered.

If you get injured on a mission, you should report your injury to...

My Unit leadership.

My immediate supervisor on the mission.

The Command Post.

My unit leadership, my immediate supervisor and the Command Post.

WA EMD will reimburse your for losing your smart phone on a mission.

True

False

Who is ultimately responsible to maintaining your training records?

SAR Training Director.

Unit Training Officer.

Sheriff’s Office.

Me, the individual SAR volunteer.

If you are asked to perform a task you are not trained to do, is it your duty to:

Decline the assignment and inform the requesting party that you do not have the training to do the job.

Step up and get the job done, and note that you should attend the relevant training at the next SAR academy.

Meets v80 standard for the written portion of Legal Issues.