South End Residents Among First Responders Receiving Tickets Donated by Outside the Box
Ted Cutler, founder and chairman of Outside the Box, has donated tickets to first responders and medical staff throughout Boston to a special Doo Wop Show at the Cutler Majestic Theatre on the first Sunday of the festival. Tickets have South End Patch News
Legislation Aims to Protect Off-Duty Responders from Lawsuits
The Massachusetts State Senate has unanimously approved a “Good Samaritan Bill” aimed at protecting off-duty first responders from lawsuits if they provide assistance at an emergency scene. The issue of protecting first responders and others from lawsuits has come up at various times in recent years, but quickly regained traction in the aftermath of the recent Boston Marathon bombings. “While the many off-duty firefighters and EMTs who rushed to help in the aftermath of the Marathon bombings brought this into sharp focus, the fact is we are lucky to have brave men and women who come to the aid of their fellow citizens every day in emergencies from car accidents to heart attacks,” said State Senator Katherine Clark, who chairs the Judiciary Committee. “They shouldn’t have to worry that doing the right thing could result in legal action.” According to an announcement from Clark’s office, this legislation would specifically place off-duty first responders under the state’s existing Good Samaritan Law, which protects average citizens from frivolous lawsuits if they provide assistance to somebody during an emergency. “On Marathon Monday, many off-duty firefighters and emergency medical technicians came to the immediate aid of the hundreds of people impacted by the blasts and, as good Samaritans, they should be provided with the same legal protections,” said State Senate President Therese Murray. State Senator James Timilty, a Walpole Democrat, is the lead sponsor of the bill. “This legislation not only seeks to protect those who risked their lives to help on Marathon Monday, but the everyday occurrences of an accident on the side of the road or a child injured on the ball field. We should do everything in our power to ensure that those with the adequate training to help do not hesitate out of fear of a lawsuit,” said Timilty. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Aims, from, Lawsuits, legislation, OffDuty, Protect, Responders
Should Boston’s First Responders Get a Duck Boat Parade?
Boston’s run the gamut of emotions this week, from terror to sadness to perseverance and, finally, joy. Throughout the entire topsy turvy week, however, everyone said the same thing: Boston’s first responders did an outstanding job. From the injured at the finish line to the academics and public policy experts, an entire nation has lauded Boston’s police officers, firefighters, EMTs and medical professionals for their response to the bombing. With the bombers now both accounted for, someone on Facebook got themselves a good idea: We’ve had Duck Boat parades for the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots in the past 12 years. How about we crank up the Ducks and take to the streets to say thanks to the city’s first responders? The Facebook page Duck Boat Parade for Boston First Responders was started Friday night just after the second bombing suspect was captured. By 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning, it already had 51,400 likes. This is an ide people can get behind. What do you think? Do Boston’s first responders deserve a parade? Is it still a little too close to Monday’s tragedy to think about this? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below. South End Patch