Document name

Coverage – Medical First Responders

Document number

POL 04/2024

Medical first responder means an individual who is a volunteer registered as a medical first responder with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

Emergency means an incident when the SHA deploys medical first responders registered with them to respond to a call.

1. Under Subsection 3(3) of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, (the “Act”), the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has extended coverage to volunteer medical first responders registered with the SHA.

2. Medical first responders are volunteers trained in first aid and organized to provide prompt initial emergency care for the sick or injured. They are able to offer initial resuscitation, stabilization and support while ambulance services are en route. The health authority typically deploys medical first responders through the same mechanism as ambulance services, and usually at the same time.

1. Subject to the conditions of this policy, coverage under the Act is extended to registered medical first responders while in the course of responding to an emergency incident when deployed by the health authority.

2. Medical first responders must be registered with SHA.

3. Coverage shall be in effect from the time of notification of an emergency and includes travel from the medical first responder’s residence or location to the site of the emergency and return, provided there is no deviation for personal reasons. 

4. Coverage is also in effect while undergoing medical first responder training, certification and re-certification.

5. Coverage does not extend to situations where a medical first responder is acting as a “good samaritan” without being deployed by the health authority.

6. Earnings loss benefits will only be paid where there is an actual loss of earnings demonstrated.

7. If there is a loss of earnings, the calculation of earnings loss benefits for any claims arising out of this policy will be based on:

   1. All earnings from a medical first responder’s employment in industries covered by the Act;

   2. If no covered earnings, the provincial minimum wage for a forty-hour workweek for the first 24 months of demonstrated earnings loss;

   3. If earnings loss benefits have been paid for a period exceeding 24 consecutive months, two-thirds of the average weekly wage as of June in the year immediately preceding the year in which the loss of earnings or ability to earn occurs (POL 28/2010, Compensation Rate – Minimum and Average Weekly Earnings).

   4. In the event of a fatality, benefits to the dependent spouse of a medical first responder will be based upon section 81 of the Act. The dependent spouse will receive a monthly allowance based on the greater of the deceased worker’s compensation at the time of death or on-half of the average weekly wage. The allowance is paid for an initial period of five years and under certain conditions may be paid for a longer period.