EMS Workers Face Many Dangers

By: Dave’s EMS Headquarters

It never entered my mind when I began my career as a Paramedic, that my career would be shortened after becoming the victim of violence. But in fact my career was in fact shortened because I was assaulted by a patient who had overdosed on illegal narcotics and became violent. Scene safety was never discussed in the emergency medical education program. Today emergency medical services personnel wear bulletproof vests because of the increased violence against EMS workers.

A study conducted in 1999 concluded that during 12-years in EMS, those paramedics received an average of 9 assaults per paramedic. Assault injuries resulted in 170 cases of blunt trauma, 73 lacerations, 2 gun shot wounds, 10 stabbings, 1 burn, 8 fractures, 9 dislocations, 1 choking, and 56 cases of miscellaneous body injuries.” Emergency medical services personnel continue to face many dangers in the course of their profession and in the line of duty. The dangers faced begin upon receiving a call from their dispatcher for response to a medical or traumatic call. The emergency run poses a greater risk of becoming involved in an automobile accident causing injury or death then the chances of an EMT accidentally sustaining a needle stick and contracting HIV.

Once on the scene of a call the emergency medical technicians chances of becoming the victim of an act of aggression and violence. Danger can threaten EMS providers at any time and anywhere. There is no such thing as a “safe” neighborhood or a “safe” area of town. Emergency medical services personnel have been killed and or injured, in the line of duty. The causes and acts are becoming more and more random. They include injury and or fatal injuries resulting from motorists who have failed to yield the right away to the EMS vehicles equipped that are equipped with state of the art flashers, sirens, and intersection lights. Drivers do not pay attention to Emergency Vehicles, and are distracted by blasting stereos, driving while intoxicated, and talking on cell phones just to name a few.

Once on the scene, emergency medical personnel often are faced with hysterical family members, sometime including verbal and physical assaults from bystanders. Additional risks faced by the EMS personnel include being struck by cars while treating patients at accident scenes that have resulted in both critical injuries and deaths. Motorist fails to slow down, or operate their cars dangerously and aggressively in accident zones. Over the years, paramedics have seen in an increase in responses to more dangerous situations that have resulted from both foreign and domestic terrorism.

EMS personnel have been targets during the Columbine school shootings, the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal building, the 1993 World Trade Center Attack, release of gas in the New York subways, and the most recent attacks on September 11, 2001 of the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon. Emergency medical services personnel who are trained to save lives and operate under the EMT Oath taken to preserve life, EMS Personnel now face the uncertainty that Police officers and Firefighters that there is no guarantee of returning home to their families at the end of their shift. Paramedics and Firefighters do not carry a firearm their only means of safety is a Law Enforcement presence and that’s still not a safety guarantee.

Legislation is lacking in many states that provides strong legal consequences for causing injuries and or death of these dedicated men and women in Emergency Medical Services. As stated earlier the cost of a bullet proof vests is approximately $500.00 per vest, many private agencies as well as volunteer organizations do not provide these needed safety devices because of the cost, leaving the choice and expense of the EMT. Recently in my county a new policy was adopted by the Medical Control Director that states that EMS Personnel and Firefighters responding to violent and suicide calls must “stage,” [park several blocks away from the scene until police units have arrived and secured the scene] although this protects the responding medical personnel it does create the danger of delaying rapid treatment for the patient. EMS Personnel should incorporate the following criteria in their response to Dangerous calls.

1.) Dispatchers need to obtain as much Information as possible, i.e. is there a violent situation for patient? Is this an attempted suicide and by what means, if this is a shooting and or stabbing is the perpetrator still on the scene? Is the patient in possession of any type of weapon?

2.) The responding EMS crew and Fire personnel must be given detailed dispatch information, including frequent updates regarding Law Enforcement’s response as well as their estimated time of arrival. In addition, dispatch should update the crews as additional information becomes available.

3.) Upon EMS arrival, the EMS crew should overview the scene. i.e. is there any immediate danger, is law enforcement on the scene, and are there any visible dangers to the crew. Identify areas for a safe retreat.

4.) When on scene of a motor vehicle accident, survey the area before getting out of the rig is the scene secure. Are there any electrical lines down on or around the vehicle or vehicles, is there a vehicle fire, are there any vehicles involved there is transporting hazardous waste or chemicals? Is traffic congestion causing additional hazards? Place your Unit in a safe position that will protect you, the patients, and the scene.

5.) Do not put yourself in harm’s way; Always have open communications with your dispatcher. If the scene becomes dangerous remove yourself and your partner from the scene until security is reestablished by law enforcement.

The potential for scene violence & violent patients exists for all types of EMS responses, do not become complacent you must always remain vigilant. Since the attack on September 11, 2001 police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel have had the publics renewed appreciation for the work that we do and the a unselfish sacrifices we make.

Source: EMS Dangers

DISCLAIMER - Please be advised, Dave Huethe is not the person noted, associated, or affiliated, with Dave’s EMS Headquarters. Re-publication of the above article should in no way be construed that Mr. Heuthe endorses, supports or approves of any of Dave’s EMS Headquarters website and/or its associated content.

Republished 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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