Kentucky Paramedics Face License Loss After Administering Antivenom to Snakebite Victim
STANTON, Ky. — Two Kentucky paramedics who helped save a man bitten by a venomous snake are now facing the possible loss of their licenses after state officials said they were not certified to administer antivenom.
Snakebite at Kentucky Reptile Zoo
The incident happened in May, when Powell County paramedic Eddie Barnes and his teammate responded to a call at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. Co-director James Harrison had been bitten by a highly poisonous mamba snake, setting off a race against time to administer life-saving treatment.
Barnes said that while waiting for a medical helicopter at the airport, Harrison insisted he needed the antivenom immediately and revealed he had brought his own supply from the zoo.
“He said the first part of the stage is paralysis, second part is respiratory arrest, third part is cardiac arrest. He said, ‘I’m gonna die,’” Barnes recalled.
Decision to Administer Antivenom
Unable to reach his supervisor, Barnes contacted the Clark Regional Medical Center, where an ER doctor authorized them to administer the antivenom.
Harrison survived the bite, and his wife later credited the EMS workers’ quick action with saving his life.
Facing Disciplinary Action
Despite the successful outcome, Barnes and his teammate now face possible license revocation because they lacked the specific “wilderness paramedic” certification required under a 2023 policy change by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS).
Executive Director Eddie Slone confirmed the board had opened a preliminary investigation, noting that cases often result in additional training rather than full suspension. A hearing is scheduled for September 30.
Paramedics Defend Their Actions
Barnes expressed frustration with the investigation, saying, “If we had sat there and let him die, then we would have been morally and ethically responsible, and we could have been criminally charged for his death. If it came down today, I would do the same thing. You cannot put a price on a person’s life.”
Community Reaction
Harrison’s wife, Kristen Wiley, said she is personally grateful. “Every physician that we’ve talked to about it agrees that they were heroes and did what needed to be done to save him. That’s who I want working on me in an emergency,” she told Fox 10.
The case has sparked debate about whether rigid regulations are putting patients at risk in life-or-death emergencies.
Do you believe Kentucky should allow paramedics more flexibility in emergencies like snakebites, even without special certifications? Share your thoughts in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
