Updated April 22, 2015
While watching video of our brave brothers and sisters at the Boston marathon bombing, I could not help but be amazed at the dedication, professionalism and organization of that city’s emergency services in action. Although I have seen a lot in my time on the street, some of those images still dance in my head.
As I watched the footage of the emergency response I could not help but wonder if those responders were able to handle the physical stresses imposed upon them. There were responders running to the scene carrying trauma bags, some over a great distance and obstacles.
Others were running to and from the scene with their cot, loading and then extricating a patient to a waiting staged ambulance.
Physical stresses and errors
We all know that once the adrenalin starts flowing and the heart rate begins rising, the game changes significantly.
Errors in information, difficulty with cognition, poor concentration and even personal injury are all known to occur from the combination of poor conditioning and active scenes. This is one reason why we practice the art of street medicine so much. Yet it’s different at speed.
Think back to the last time you had to physically exert yourself on a call, I mean really push your limits. Your heart rate elevated, you breathed faster. Your legs started to burn and eventually you may have reached a point where you experienced some anaerobic debt.
Your hands started to shake, your hearing got a little fuzzy (from your rapid breathing) and concentration started to waver. At this point errors occur, errors that could harm the patient or even you.
Think about active shooter incidents. We no longer stay a safe distance back waiting for our brothers in law enforcement to give the all clear. Many departments are now bringing the EMS responders into the scene as they go to begin treating the wounded sooner. These scenes are still “hot” and you may have to turn and get out at a moment’s notice. Are you fit enough to save your own life? Can you drag a patient 50 yards on a flexible stretcher to cover and then treat them?
EMS responders need to be athletes
Responders, make no mistake about it, EMS is a physical job. As I have said many times in this column YOU are a power lifter, an athlete. Physical ability is an integral part of this profession. When the time comes, will you be ready to answer that big call, do your job and get out safely?
We owe it to ourselves to be ready to, and excel at what we do best. But we have to identify ourselves as a fit, powerful and highly educated profession that is both physically able and mentally prepared to do what it takes to get the job done.
