Who responds for first responders?

They're volunteers, the first to respond when someone needs medical attention.

However, unlike ambulance crews, firefighters or law enforcement, most area first responders are not covered by insurance if they're injured on the job. That reality was brought to the forefront for the Nisswa-Lake Shore First Responders last fall when two of its members were exposed to the H1N1 virus while on a medical call.

Both first responders were taken to the hospital and given a clean bill of health. However, when one of the men learned he'd have to pay the $3,000 deductible from his medical insurance for the emergency room visit he thought about resigning, said first responder Ron Reph.

"He basically said, 'Look, this is a volunteer organization, we're not being paid for gas or anything like that and I can't afford to be a first responder,'" Reph said.

Reph said the man didn't resign after the Nisswa-Lake Shore First Responders decided to look at getting insurance for the group. And, ultimately, the hospital forgave the emergency room bill.

But Reph said that experience opened his eyes to the potential danger of their jobs as first responders.

"What happens if we twist an ankle or break a leg carrying a person down a flight of steps to the ambulance? Who covers those costs?" Reph said. "We respond from our home any time an ambulance is called to our area. This is strictly a volunteer organization. We don't charge anything for our services."

Kevin Lee, North Ambulance manager and also a first responder in East Gull Lake, understands the Nisswa-Lake Shore first responders' frustrations. He also isn't covered by North Ambulance if he is injured while performing the duties of a first responder.

North Ambulance is limited in what it can do to help first responders, Lee said, and that help can't include medical coverage.

"The first responders are valuable and we do what we can to support them but we can only offer workers' comp to our employees," Lee said.

The Nisswa-Lake Shore First Responders took their case to the Nisswa City Council in January, asking for workers' compensation for first responders.

Nisswa Mayor Brian Lehman noted the city's budget for 2010 has already been set and it included $2,000 for the Nisswa-Lake Shore First Responders.

Since the meetings with the Nisswa City Council the Nisswa-Lake Shore First Responders has purchased an insurance policy for its members, Reph said. Funds were obtained from several sources, including the Nisswa Lions Club.

While Reph said he still would like to pursue coverage from Nisswa, Lehman said the first responders should continue to seek funds from other sources, including other government entities it covers or through work on statewide coverage.

"From my perspective, the Nisswa City Council is not being asked to do anything else," Lehman said. "It's a done deal. Obviously we want the first responders to be covered. They are an instrumental part of the community."

Reph also said he was concerned that a lack of coverage for first responders could hurt recruitment for volunteer first responder organizations.

"While some people, like myself, have insurance, some people have large deductibles or possibly no insurance whatsoever. It's becomes a liability," he said. "We're trying to provide a service to the community but this could wind up really being a problem."

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.