By Linda Blackford
Lexington Herald-Leader
POWELL COUNTY, Ky. — Here’s a sentence you don’t get to write every day: Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes will not be penalized for saving the life of one of his constituents after he gave him anti-venom for a deadly mamba snake bite.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services dismissed a complaint that said Barnes, who is also a county paramedic, should not have administered the anti-venom because he didn’t have licensing as a “wilderness paramedic.”
Barnes and his many supporters contended he still did the right thing in April when he put an IV of anti-venom into Kentucky Reptile Zoo Director Jim Harrison, who was about to pass out while riding in an emergency helicopter on his way to a Lexington hospital from a bite from a Jameson’s mamba snake.
The snake bit Harrison while he was trying to breed him at the zoo in Slade.
“It’s great,” Barnes said after the dismissal. “It’s something that never should have happened, but I’m thankful to the KBEMS for doing the right thing, and hopefully this won’t happen to anyone else.”
Barnes fully admitted he had saved Harrison’s life without a license, and said he would do it again.
Barnes said he would work with the board to work out a protocol for paramedics dealing with saving people from exotic animals without the proper certification.
The board did issue a statement that chastised the media for paying so much attention to the story, which made it as far as People magazine, which documented the snaky saga this week.
It also got the attention of state Sen. Brandon Smith, R- Hazard, who represents Powell County and sent a letter in support of Barnes.
“When seconds mattered, Powell County paramedics made the right call and saved a man’s life. Instead of being punished, they deserve our thanks,” he said in subsequent comments on Facebook.
“I have urged the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services to dismiss this case and revisit a rule that has now drawn national embarrassment to our commonwealth,” he said. “Kentuckians should never have to wonder if their first responders will hesitate in an emergency because of red tape.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Smith applauded the decision but said the rules must be revisited.
“Today’s decision affirms what the public, the victim’s family, and medical professionals have said all along. These paramedics are heroes. Their quick action and sound judgment saved a life, and I am thankful that with the dismissal of this case that fact is fully recognized,” he said. “No regulation should place red tape above human life or leave first responders fearing punishment for making the right call in a crisis.”
Kristen Wiley, Jim Harrison’s wife and co-director of the zoo, said there were snake experts from all over the world who offered to testify in Barnes’ defense because anti-venom is the only cure for a mamba bite.
“There will be more from the snake bite community,” she said.
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