Cause of Death: Head injuries
End of Watch: March 23, 1985
Date of Incident: March 22, 1985
Age: 31
Rank: Firefighter
Status: Career
Badge Number: N/A
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Final Alarm: EMS assistance in Alamo Heights.
Nature of Death: Fell from fire truck while en-route to emergency call.

Firefighter Paul Hand fell from the back of a moving fire truck as it rounded the corner from Garraty Road onto Harry Wurzbach Highway while en-route to assist EMS. He sustained massive head injuries after falling from the tailboard of the truck. He was wearing his helmet and firefighting gear and also the strap required for riding on the tailboard. The accident actually occurred 3-22-85, and Firefighter Paul Hand was pronounced dead at Ft. Sam Houston Brooks Army Medical Center (BAMC) at 11:19am on 3-23-85.   

Firefighter Hand had previously resigned from the San Antonio Fire Department after serving six years.  He then became a paramedic on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico before joining Terrill Hills Fire Department.  He was attending the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying to be a mechanical engineer.  He was a graduate of Jefferson High School were he was inducted into the National Honor Society.  His organs were donated for transplant.