a. For any cardiovascular or cerebrovascular injury or death which occurs to an individual covered by subsection b. of this section while that individual is engaged in a response to an emergency, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the injury or death is compensable under R.S. 34:15-1 et seq., if that injury or death occurs while the individual is responding, under orders from competent authority, to a law enforcement, public safety or medical emergency as defined in subsection c. of this section.

b. This section shall apply to:

(1) Any permanent or temporary member of a paid or part-paid fire or police department and force;

(2) Any member of a volunteer fire company;

(3) Any member of a volunteer first aid or rescue squad; and

(4) Any special, reserve, or auxiliary policeman doing volunteer duty.

c. As used in this section, “law enforcement, public safety or medical emergency” means any combination of circumstances requiring immediate action to prevent the loss of human life, the destruction of property, or the violation of the criminal laws of this State or its political subdivisions, and includes, but is not limited to, the suppression of a fire, a firemanic drill, the apprehension of a criminal, or medical and rescue service.

1987,c.382.