Commission approves EMS memorandum allowing military medic ride-alongs

The board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing U.S. Army combat medics to participate in supervised ride-alongs with Liberty County EMS.

EMS staff said the program has been hosted previously and was successful; the medics would accompany EMS crews to observe bedside assessments, basic patient-care tasks and documentation but would not perform advanced patient care. Staff said the military participants are covered under their military liability/HIPAA protections and that orientation and scheduling would prioritize county new hires and technical-college affiliate students.

Commissioners voted to approve the MOU and asked staff to begin scheduling once the signed documents are returned. Staff said scheduling would begin after signatures and coordination with the military unit; the initial MOU referenced one unit and staff said they are negotiating with a second unit and may bring a second MOU forward later this year.