Safety strategies for EMS

How to Stay Safe

How can we as EMTs and paramedics stay safe? Our job puts us in potentially dangerous situations every day. We deal with the public in a similar way that the police do. People call us for help and they expect us to solve problems or resolve disputes that they can’t resolve on their own. Though we don’t deal with criminals in the act of a crime, we do deal with people who, for a variety of reasons, medical and/or emotional, may see us as a threat.

Emergency situations can escalate very quickly into a physical confrontation. This is where the police have a big advantage. They have weapons. We don’t. They are trained and authorized to use deadly force. We are not. So how can we deal with the reality of our job? Is there a way we can stay safe with the limitations we have? I believe there is.

In a previous article entitled “Awareness: our first and Best Defense” I wrote about how to avoid dangerous situations, but as you know we are not always in full control, mistakes happen and we can find ourselves face to face with danger. What do we do then?

Here are some basic strategies to stay safe.

1) If you find yourself in a dangerous situation LEAVE. If it’s obvious that you won’t be able to treat the patient, GET OUT OF THERE and call for the police. You remember them, the guys with the guns. It’s nice to get a medal for heroism, but not posthumously. People will talk about how brave you WERE, but your family will still be without you.

2) Speak in a calm voice. Don’t allow your emotions to take over. Don’t shout or yell. The Bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.”

3) Don’t challenge. If a person puts his fists up don’t mirror him. He’ll see that as a challenge, which could escalate into a fist-fight. Step back with your hands out, palms facing him, saying, “I’m just here to help you.”

4) Put your ego in your pocket. We can’t allow ourselves to take what people say, in the heat of the moment, personally. Others may insult or accuse you, but remember they don’t know you. It really doesn’t matter what they say so let it go.

As I said before mistakes can happen, but if you follow these simple rules, your chances of going home safe are greatly increased.

Published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

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