Georgia Paramedic Charged After Falling Asleep at the Wheel: 24 hour Shift Questioned

An accident in Floyd County, Georgia has called into question the use of 24 hour shifts/56 hour per week schedules for fire and emergency personnel.

Paramedic Gerald Zigner, 22, allegedly fell asleep at the wheel of his ambulance 12 hours into a 24 hour shift two weeks ago. His partner was critically injured when the ambulance struck another vehicle head on during a patient transport.

The case takes on greater significance in light of research into sleep deprivation indicating that 24 hours without sleep is equivalent to being legally intoxicated. The State of New Jersey has gone so far as to pass a law known as “Maggie’s Law” that makes it illegal to drive after being awake more than 24 hours.