EMS and other public safety agencies can use social media for good – to share public safety messages, to disseminate instructions during a disaster, and to engage with the public to strengthen the relationship and community support.
But all too often, public safety professionals forget the golden rule of social media: think before you post, and don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother, and your boss to read.
During the recent increase in civil unrest after the death of George Floyd, many communities across the country witnessed peaceful protests, as well as gatherings turned violent, riots and attacks – some directed at fire and EMS providers and apparatus.
Amid the heightened tension, several fire and EMS providers have posted inappropriate and controversial content on social media – and have faced consequences, including termination.
Video: Ethical lapses: The EMS provider’s duty to intervene
In a recent EMS1 Poll, we asked, Does your agency have a social media policy? Just over half of respondents (55%) noted their agency has a clear and well-communicated policy governing social media, while 16% were unsure of their organization had such a policy. Troublingly, 29% of respondents noted their organization has a social media policy, but fails to enforce it.
In a presentation on legally regulating social media use and conduct, EMS1 Editorial Director Greg Friese, MS, NRP; and Chief Skip Kirkwood offered these 4 tips for organizations. If you haven’t already, commit to:
1. Review and update your internet usage and downtime (time without patients) policies
2. Create, adopt and train on an organization social media policy
3. Establish a social presence for the organization
4. Monitor the social web
Additional resources for safe social media use
Learn more about public safety social media use with these resources from EMS1:
- Emergency communication in the age of social media
- Freedom of speech: Social media and the public sector
- EMS providers are held to a higher standard, which includes social media
- EMS hiring and firing in the social media age
- Social media use: Rules and regulations for EMS
- Video: Using social media safely in EMS
- Memo: Social media training for paramedic class graduates
Does your organization clearly communicate and enforce its social media policy? Share your experience in the comments section, and don’t forget to weigh in on our latest poll.