                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PERSONS RENDERING EMERGENCY CARE, OBSTETRICAL SERVICES EXEMPT FROM LIABILITY (§
8.01-225)

A. Any person who:

   1. In good faith, renders emergency care or assistance, without compensation,
   to any ill or injured person (i) at the scene of an accident, fire, or any
   life-threatening emergency; (ii) at a location for screening or stabilization
   of an emergency medical condition arising from an accident, fire, or any
   life-threatening emergency; or (iii) en route to any hospital, medical clinic,
   or doctor&#8217;s office, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts
   or omissions resulting from the rendering of such care or assistance. For
   purposes of this subdivision, emergency care or assistance includes the
   forcible entry of a motor vehicle in order to remove an unattended minor at
   risk of serious bodily injury or death, provided the person has attempted to
   contact a law-enforcement officer, as defined in &#xA7; 9.1-101, a
   firefighter, as defined in &#xA7; 65.2-102, emergency medical services
   personnel, as defined in &#xA7; 32.1-111.1, or an emergency 911 system, if
   feasible under the circumstances.

   2. In the absence of gross negligence, renders emergency obstetrical care or
   assistance to a female in active labor who has not previously been cared for
   in connection with the pregnancy by such person or by another professionally
   associated with such person and whose medical records are not reasonably
   available to such person shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or
   omissions resulting from the rendering of such emergency care or assistance.
   The immunity herein granted shall apply only to the emergency medical care
   provided.

   3. In good faith and without compensation, including any emergency medical
   services provider who holds a valid certificate issued by the Commissioner of
   Health, administers epinephrine in an emergency to an individual shall not be
   liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment if such person has reason to
   believe that the individual receiving the injection is suffering or is about
   to suffer a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

   4. Provides assistance upon request of any police agency, fire department,
   emergency medical services agency, or governmental agency in the event of an
   accident or other emergency involving the use, handling, transportation,
   transmission, or storage of liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas,
   hazardous material, or hazardous waste as defined in &#xA7; 10.1-1400 or
   regulations of the Virginia Waste Management Board shall not be liable for any
   civil damages resulting from any act of commission or omission on his part in
   the course of his rendering such assistance in good faith.

   5. Is an emergency medical services provider possessing a valid certificate
   issued by authority of the State Board of Health who in good faith renders
   emergency care or assistance, whether in person or by telephone or other means
   of communication, without compensation, to any injured or ill person, whether
   at the scene of an accident, fire, or any other place, or while transporting
   such injured or ill person to, from, or between any hospital, medical
   facility, medical clinic, doctor&#8217;s office, or other similar or related
   medical facility, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or
   omissions resulting from the rendering of such emergency care, treatment, or
   assistance, including but in no way limited to acts or omissions which involve
   violations of State Department of Health regulations or any other state
   regulations in the rendering of such emergency care or assistance.

   6. In good faith and without compensation, renders or administers emergency
   cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); cardiac defibrillation, including, but
   not limited to, the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED); or other
   emergency life-sustaining or resuscitative treatments or procedures which have
   been approved by the State Board of Health to any sick or injured person,
   whether at the scene of a fire, an accident, or any other place, or while
   transporting such person to or from any hospital, clinic, doctor&#8217;s
   office, or other medical facility, shall be deemed qualified to administer
   such emergency treatments and procedures and shall not be liable for acts or
   omissions resulting from the rendering of such emergency resuscitative
   treatments or procedures.

   7. Operates an AED at the scene of an emergency, trains individuals to be
   operators of AEDs, or orders AEDs, shall be immune from civil liability for
   any personal injury that results from any act or omission in the use of an AED
   in an emergency where the person performing the defibrillation acts as an
   ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar
   circumstances, unless such personal injury results from gross negligence or
   willful or wanton misconduct of the person rendering such emergency care.

   8. Maintains an AED located on real property owned or controlled by such
   person shall be immune from civil liability for any personal injury that
   results from any act or omission in the use in an emergency of an AED located
   on such property unless such personal injury results from gross negligence or
   willful or wanton misconduct of the person who maintains the AED or his agent
   or employee.

   9. Is an employee of a school board or of a local health department approved
   by the local governing body to provide health services pursuant to &#xA7;
   22.1-274 who, while on school property or at a school-sponsored event, (i)
   renders emergency care or assistance to any sick or injured person; (ii)
   renders or administers emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); cardiac
   defibrillation, including, but not limited to, the use of an automated
   external defibrillator (AED); or other emergency life-sustaining or
   resuscitative treatments or procedures that have been approved by the State
   Board of Health to any sick or injured person; (iii) operates an AED, trains
   individuals to be operators of AEDs, or orders AEDs; (iv) maintains an AED; or
   (v) renders care in accordance with a seizure management and action plan
   pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-274.6, shall not be liable for civil damages for
   ordinary negligence in acts or omissions on the part of such employee while
   engaged in the acts described in this subdivision.

   10. Is a volunteer in good standing and certified to render emergency care by
   the National Ski Patrol System, Inc., who, in good faith and without
   compensation, renders emergency care or assistance to any injured or ill
   person, whether at the scene of a ski resort rescue, outdoor emergency rescue,
   or any other place or while transporting such injured or ill person to a place
   accessible for transfer to any available emergency medical system unit, or any
   resort owner voluntarily providing a ski patroller employed by him to engage
   in rescue or recovery work at a resort not owned or operated by him, shall not
   be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions resulting from the
   rendering of such emergency care, treatment, or assistance, including but not
   limited to acts or omissions which involve violations of any state regulation
   or any standard of the National Ski Patrol System, Inc., in the rendering of
   such emergency care or assistance, unless such act or omission was the result
   of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

   11. Is an employee of (i) a school board, (ii) a school for students with
   disabilities as defined in &#xA7; 22.1-319 licensed by the Board of Education,
   or (iii) a private school accredited pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-19 as
   administered by the Virginia Council for Private Education and is authorized
   by a prescriber and trained in the administration of insulin and glucagon,
   who, upon the written request of the parents as defined in &#xA7; 22.1-1,
   assists with the administration of insulin or, in the case of a school board
   employee, with the insertion or reinsertion of an insulin pump or any of its
   parts pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; 22.1-274.01:1 or administers glucagon
   to a student diagnosed as having diabetes who requires insulin injections
   during the school day or for whom glucagon has been prescribed for the
   emergency treatment of hypoglycemia shall not be liable for any civil damages
   for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of
   such treatment if the insulin is administered according to the child&#8217;s
   medication schedule or such employee has reason to believe that the individual
   receiving the glucagon is suffering or is about to suffer life-threatening
   hypoglycemia. Whenever any such employee is covered by the immunity granted
   herein, the school board or school employing him shall not be liable for any
   civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the
   rendering of such insulin or glucagon treatment.

   12. Is an employee of a public institution of higher education or a private
   institution of higher education who is authorized by a prescriber and trained
   in the administration of insulin and glucagon, who assists with the
   administration of insulin or administers glucagon to a student diagnosed as
   having diabetes who requires insulin injections or for whom glucagon has been
   prescribed for the emergency treatment of hypoglycemia shall not be liable for
   any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from
   the rendering of such treatment if the insulin is administered according to
   the student&#8217;s medication schedule or such employee has reason to believe
   that the individual receiving the glucagon is suffering or is about to suffer
   life-threatening hypoglycemia. Whenever any employee is covered by the
   immunity granted in this subdivision, the institution shall not be liable for
   any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from
   the rendering of such insulin or glucagon treatment.

   13. Is a school nurse, an employee of a school board, an employee of a local
   governing body, or an employee of a local health department who is authorized
   by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine and who
   provides, administers, or assists in the administration of epinephrine to a
   student believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction, or is
   the prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not be liable for any civil damages
   for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of
   such treatment.

   14. Is an employee of a school for students with disabilities, as defined in
   &#xA7; 22.1-319 and licensed by the Board of Education, or an employee of a
   private school that is accredited pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-19 as administered
   by the Virginia Council for Private Education who is authorized by a
   prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine and who
   administers or assists in the administration of epinephrine to a student
   believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction, or is the
   prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not be liable for any civil damages for
   ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such
   treatment. Whenever any employee is covered by the immunity granted in this
   subdivision, the school shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary
   negligence in acts or omissions resulting from such administration or
   assistance.

   15. Is an employee of a public institution of higher education or a private
   institution of higher education who is authorized by a prescriber and trained
   in the administration of epinephrine and who administers or assists in the
   administration of epinephrine to a student believed in good faith to be having
   an anaphylactic reaction, or is the prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not
   be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment. Whenever any employee is
   covered by the immunity granted in this subdivision, the institution shall not
   be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from such administration or assistance.

   16. Is an employee of an organization providing outdoor educational
   experiences or programs for youth who is authorized by a prescriber and
   trained in the administration of epinephrine and who administers or assists in
   the administration of epinephrine to a participant in the outdoor experience
   or program for youth believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic
   reaction, or is the prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not be liable for any
   civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the
   rendering of such treatment. Whenever any employee is covered by the immunity
   granted in this subdivision, the organization shall not be liable for any
   civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from such
   administration or assistance.

   17. Is an employee of a restaurant licensed pursuant to Chapter 3 (&#xA7;
   35.1-18 et seq.) of Title 35.1, is authorized by a prescriber and trained in
   the administration of epinephrine, and provides, administers, or assists in
   the administration of epinephrine to an individual believed in good faith to
   be having an anaphylactic reaction on the premises of the restaurant at which
   the employee is employed, or is the prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not
   be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment.

   18. Is an employee of a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral
   Health and Developmental Services, or provides services pursuant to a contract
   with a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and
   Developmental Services, who has been trained in the administration of insulin
   and glucagon and who administers or assists with the administration of insulin
   or administers glucagon to a person diagnosed as having diabetes who requires
   insulin injections or for whom glucagon has been prescribed for the emergency
   treatment of hypoglycemia in accordance with &#xA7; 54.1-3408 shall not be
   liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment if the insulin is administered
   in accordance with the prescriber&#8217;s instructions or such person has
   reason to believe that the individual receiving the glucagon is suffering or
   is about to suffer life-threatening hypoglycemia. Whenever any employee of a
   provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
   Services or a person who provides services pursuant to a contract with a
   provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
   Services is covered by the immunity granted herein, the provider shall not be
   liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such insulin or glucagon treatment.

   19. Is an employee of a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral
   Health and Developmental Services, or provides services pursuant to a contract
   with a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and
   Developmental Services, who has been trained in the administration of
   epinephrine and who administers or assists in the administration of
   epinephrine to a person believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic
   reaction in accordance with the prescriber&#8217;s instructions shall not be
   liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment.

   20. In good faith prescribes, dispenses, or administers naloxone or other
   opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal in an emergency to an individual
   who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening
   opiate overdose shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary
   negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment
   if acting in accordance with the provisions of subsection Y or Z of &#xA7;
   54.1-3408 or in his role as a member of an emergency medical services agency.

   21. In good faith administers naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for
   overdose reversal to a person who is believed to be experiencing or about to
   experience a life-threatening opioid overdose in accordance with the
   provisions of subsection AA of &#xA7; 54.1-3408 shall not be liable for any
   civil damages for any personal injury that results from any act or omission in
   the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for overdose
   reversal, unless such act or omission was the result of gross negligence or
   willful and wanton misconduct.

   22. Is an employee of a school board, school for students with disabilities as
   defined in &#xA7; 22.1-319 licensed by the Board of Education, or private
   school accredited pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-19 as administered by the Virginia
   Council for Private Education who is trained in the administration of injected
   medications for the treatment of adrenal crisis resulting from a condition
   causing adrenal insufficiency and who administers or assists in the
   administration of such medications to a student diagnosed with a condition
   causing adrenal insufficiency when the student is believed to be experiencing
   or about to experience an adrenal crisis pursuant to a written order or
   standing protocol issued by a prescriber within the course of his professional
   practice and in accordance with the prescriber&#8217;s instructions shall not
   be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions
   resulting from the rendering of such treatment.

   23. Is a school nurse, a licensed athletic trainer under contract with a local
   school division, an employee of a school board, an employee of a local
   governing body, or an employee of a local health department who is authorized
   by the local health director and trained in the administration of albuterol
   inhalers and valved holding chambers or nebulized albuterol and who provides,
   administers, or assists in the administration of an albuterol inhaler and a
   valved holding chamber or nebulized albuterol for a student believed in good
   faith to be in need of such medication, or is the prescriber of such
   medication, shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence
   in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment.

   24. Is an employee of a place of public accommodation, as defined in
   subsection A of &#xA7; 2.2-3904, who is authorized by a prescriber and trained
   in the administration of epinephrine and who administers or assists in the
   administration of epinephrine to a person present in the place of public
   accommodation believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction, or
   is the prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not be liable for any civil
   damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the
   rendering of such treatment. Whenever any employee is covered by the immunity
   granted in this subdivision, the organization shall not be liable for any
   civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from such
   administration or assistance.

   25. Is a nurse at an early childhood care and education entity, employee at
   the entity, or employee of a local health department who is authorized by a
   prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine and who provides,
   administers, or assists in the administration of epinephrine to a child
   believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction, or is the
   prescriber of the epinephrine, shall not be liable for any civil damages for
   ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such
   treatment.

   26. Is an employee of (i) a school board, (ii) a school for students with
   disabilities as defined in &#xA7; 22.1-319 licensed by the Board of Education,
   (iii) a private school accredited pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-19 as administered
   by the Virginia Council for Private Education, (iv) a local governing body, or
   (v) a local health department who is trained in the administration of seizure
   rescue medications for the treatment of seizures resulting from a condition
   causing seizures and who administers or assists in the administration of such
   medications to a student diagnosed with a condition causing seizures when the
   student is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a seizure in
   accordance with subsection BB of &#xA7; 54.1-3408 and pursuant to a written
   order or standing protocol issued by a prescriber within the course of his
   professional practice and in accordance with the prescriber&#8217;s
   instructions shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence
   in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment.

B. Any licensed physician serving without compensation as the operational
medical director for an emergency medical services agency that holds a valid
license as an emergency medical services agency issued by the Commissioner of
Health shall not be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission
resulting from the rendering of emergency medical services in good faith by the
personnel of such licensed agency unless such act or omission was the result of
such physician&#8217;s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
			Any person serving without compensation as a dispatcher for any licensed
public or nonprofit emergency medical services agency in the Commonwealth shall
not be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission resulting from the
rendering of emergency services in good faith by the personnel of such licensed
agency unless such act or omission was the result of such dispatcher&#8217;s
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
			Any individual, certified by the State Office of Emergency Medical Services
as an emergency medical services instructor and pursuant to a written agreement
with such office, who, in good faith and in the performance of his duties,
provides instruction to persons for certification or recertification as a
certified basic life support or advanced life support emergency medical services
provider shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions on his
part directly relating to his activities on behalf of such office unless such
act or omission was the result of such emergency medical services
instructor&#8217;s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
			Any licensed physician serving without compensation as a medical advisor to
an E-911 system in the Commonwealth shall not be liable for any civil damages
for any act or omission resulting from rendering medical advice in good faith to
establish protocols to be used by the personnel of the E-911 service, as defined
in &#xA7; 58.1-1730, when answering emergency calls unless such act or omission
was the result of such physician&#8217;s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
			Any licensed physician who directs the provision of emergency medical
services, as authorized by the State Board of Health, through a communications
device shall not be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission
resulting from the rendering of such emergency medical services unless such act
or omission was the result of such physician&#8217;s gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
			Any licensed physician serving without compensation as a supervisor of an AED
in the Commonwealth shall not be liable for any civil damages for any act or
omission resulting from rendering medical advice in good faith to the owner of
the AED relating to personnel training, local emergency medical services
coordination, protocol approval, AED deployment strategies, and equipment
maintenance plans and records unless such act or omission was the result of such
physician&#8217;s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

C. Any communications services provider, as defined in &#xA7; 58.1-647,
including mobile service, and any provider of Voice-over-Internet Protocol
service, in the Commonwealth shall not be liable for any civil damages for any
act or omission resulting from rendering such service with or without charge
related to emergency calls unless such act or omission was the result of such
service provider&#8217;s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
			Any volunteer engaging in rescue or recovery work at a mine, or any mine
operator voluntarily providing personnel to engage in rescue or recovery work at
a mine not owned or operated by such operator, shall not be liable for civil
damages for acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such rescue or
recovery work in good faith unless such act or omission was the result of gross
negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of this subsection,
&#8220;Voice-over-Internet Protocol service&#8221; or &#8220;VoIP service&#8221;
means any Internet protocol-enabled services utilizing a broadband connection,
actually originating or terminating in Internet Protocol from either or both
ends of a channel of communication offering real time, multidirectional voice
functionality, including, but not limited to, services similar to traditional
telephone service.

D. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to provide immunity from
liability arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle.

E. For the purposes of this section, &#8220;compensation&#8221; shall not be
construed to include (i) the salaries of police, fire, or other public officials
or personnel who render such emergency assistance; (ii) the salaries or wages of
employees of a coal producer engaging in emergency medical services or first aid
services pursuant to the provisions of &#xA7; 45.2-531, 45.2-579, 45.2-863 or
45.2-910; (iii) complimentary lift tickets, food, lodging, or other gifts
provided as a gratuity to volunteer members of the National Ski Patrol System,
Inc., by any resort, group, or agency; (iv) the salary of any person who (a)
owns an AED for the use at the scene of an emergency, (b) trains individuals, in
courses approved by the Board of Health, to operate AEDs at the scene of
emergencies, (c) orders AEDs for use at the scene of emergencies, or (d)
operates an AED at the scene of an emergency; or (v) expenses reimbursed to any
person providing care or assistance pursuant to this section.
			For the purposes of this section, &#8220;emergency medical services
provider&#8221; shall include a person licensed or certified as such or its
equivalent by any other state when he is performing services that he is licensed
or certified to perform by such other state in caring for a patient in transit
in the Commonwealth, which care originated in such other state.
			Further, the public shall be urged to receive training on how to use CPR and
an AED in order to acquire the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies
using both CPR and an AED.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 54-276.9; 1962, c. 449; 1964, c. 568; 1968, c. 796; 1972,
c. 578; 1975, c. 508; 1977, c. 441; 1978, cc. 94, 707; 1979, cc. 713, 729; 1980,
c. 419; 1983, c. 72; 1984, cc. 493, 577; 1987, cc. 260, 382; 1990, c. 898; 1996,
c. 899; 1997, cc. 334, 809; 1998, cc. 493, 500; 1999, cc. 570, 1000; 2000, cc.
928, 1064; 2003, cc. 18, 978, 1020; 2005, c. 426; 2006, c. 780; 2008, c. 229;
2012, cc. 787, 833; 2013, cc. 183, 267, 300, 336, 617; 2014, c. 468; 2015, cc.
340, 387, 502, 503, 725, 732, 752; 2016, c. 144; 2017, cc. 55, 168, 294, 304,
713, 811; 2018, c. 247; 2020, cc. 459, 460, 556, 853, 924, 1095; 2021, cc. 508,
514; 2022, cc. 695, 696; 2023, c. 569; 2024, c. 465; 2025, cc. 59, 65, 277.