![]() For example, the London Ambulance Service sees a jump in assaults on ambulance staff during holidays where hundreds of drunk revelers stress the West End ambulance servicewith up to 300 calls an hour during the Christmas holiday. Identify hot spots where the chance of assault is higher due to the community or activities within the community. Consider the use of body cams to document these encounters.Įstablish a “may-day” response for crews in trouble. Make changes in how your agency identifies and responds to calls in high-risk areas. Improve your individual situational awareness and “street smarts” ![]() Get trained to defend yourself from attack. We should follow Australia’s approach of reporting and prosecuting every incident. The literature indicates that most assaults against ems caregivers and firefighters are not reported or entered into the criminal justice system. Kip Teitsort founder of DT4EMS provides this video “ EMS/Fire Assault Compilation 4.17″ ( use this link) They are also acquiring ballistic vests and getting de-escalation training. In May 2018, the Seattle Fire Department added a fire company to respond with an ambulance in the Pioneer Square community that includes shelters, camps, and a large homeless population. In 2015 a Detroit ambulance crew was attacked and severely injured by the companion of a patient. ![]() The paramedic sitting in the captain’s chair felt a slug impact the seat frame between her legs. followed by gunfire.īut what do you do when you have placed the patient on the stretcher and a “cousin” shows up and threatens violence to the patient or the responders? An inner-city fire-based ambulance crew had the experience of a “cousin” coming up as the ambulance was about to close the rear doors of the rig and shoot the patient. Or, in the case of Chicago Ambulance 75 last May, a crowd of relatives banging on the back of the ambulance. So is meeting the occupant of an apartment who aims a gun at you and orders you to leave. Every week a crew that is operating at a routine incident suddenly finds themselves in a Hot Zone because of a new player or situation, most of these encounters do not make the news.ĭo ems caregivers and firefighters “ Run, Hide or Fight” when they are suddenly in a Hot Zone?ĭiscovering a propane tank shooting a tongue of flame from its relief valve while searching at a structure fire is probably a Run response. This past week provided two vivid on-the-X situations: an active shooter and a raging firestorm. ![]() The goal is to get off the X as soon as possible. Getting off the X is a phrase used in the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care course that defines casualties and caregivers that are in the Hot Zone and exposed to life-threatening harm from the danger the situation poses. ![]()
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