Playing It Safe
With NO slight intended at all, so many “laymen” will easily mention the hazards that firefighters and police officers face every day… and yet few recognize the many hazards that EMS personnel also face. It is NOT a contest, but the dangers lurking in response to ANY emergency call can certainly leave a responder seriously injured, or worse.
First, let’s consider the response itself. Often you have a vehicle responding at (possibly) a high speed, sometimes during less than optimum driving conditions. The responding vehicle is pulled to a stop in an unfamiliar driveway, or a non-residential scene like a busy highway or a dark and remote section of woods. Maybe the front door to the house is open, or it’s dark and you have to knock. You never know what kind of scene you will be pulling up to.
We should all remember the phrase “situational awareness” when entering any site. Be aware of WHO may be around you. Look for hazards as you enter a structure like broken steps or broken glass. Remember your PPE as you enter a scene and begin to treat your patient, infectious diseases are usually not visible. Make note of anyone else on scene and assume anyone can be a threat. Be careful if it is a combined response with police, gunfire could happen – if you respond to a crime scene, let the police go first and hang back until they state it is safe.
Several decades ago, I was sitting in on a “situational awareness” lesson in a Rockland County training center. The instructor and one of his assistants played a volatile couple, students played the responding crew. He (the instructor) was inebriated and loud, she (the assistant) was argumentative and holding a baby (doll). She yelled that he was “high on drugs” and would not stop screaming at him which only made him more defiant. He was bleeding from a “minor injury” and the crew tried to get close to treat him. The crew managed to get in between the two and tried to give treatment to him. He suddenly threw the coffee table (purposely) missing the surprised crew.
Now all attention was on the male patient. Suddenly, behind the unsuspecting crew, the girlfriend drew a “gun” and fired at her boyfriend, “killing” him. This was only pretend… but it could have been real, and the gunshot could have hit any of the crew… they were not watching her, they didn’t think that she was a threat. A few weeks later, one of the new EMTs that had been in that classroom called the instructor to let him know that he had learned to keep a watchful eye and alerted a police officer of the patient’s roommate who was holding a knife at the scene.
NYS EMS classes are increasingly incorporating situational awareness, responder safety and security into their programs. However, the training emphasis is still focused more on security positions, while EMS providers are reminded to wear PPE against infections. We never know when that innocent response to a drunken house party could wind up as a free-for-all fist fight. Taking in a good visual account of your surroundings, calling for necessary back-up, waiting outside when necessary, and, yes, wearing your PPE, is the best way to stay safe and unharmed.
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