When I first started in the business, a veteran EMS provider told me that if it weren’t for alcohol, tobacco and drugs that most of us would be out of a job.
I still believe that to this day — consider all of the respiratory and cardiac diseases that we see and all of the issues with “street” calls related to the trafficking of illicit drugs. Violence is one such outcome; for decades, EMS crews have waited for law enforcement officers to gain control of the scene before beginning treatment.
It’s a bit aggravating when stories, such as this one from San Bernardino, imply fire and EMS responders choose to “wait” to take care of their patients. Most EMS systems have operational protocols that prohibit responders from entering “hot scenes,” where the risk of injury is higher than acceptable. Unlike the past where first responders were considered to be the “good guys,” more civilians are not as trusting as they once were.
As a result, the danger to self and others is significant. Once injured, responders become a liability on scene — law enforcement has others to protect, more resources are needed to treat and transport and the care to the patient may be delayed as a result.
I’m also insulted by the implication that somehow the age of the patient is reason enough to take unnecessary risk. Harsh as it may sound, it doesn’t matter. As part of the health safety net, we provide care to patients regardless of age, color, sex or socioeconomic status. We don’t choose who we respond to — they call, we haul and that’s all.
Here’s one more miserable implication: while the EMS responders are taking flack for not running into a dangerous situation, there seems to be little attention paid to the assailant who fired the shot that killed the patient. Reporting like this skews public perception and causes unnecessary questions and criticism for the community’s public safety agencies, which in turn can potentially worsen the safety profile of any future scenes.
I’m not sure how enlightening that is for a news story; it certainly doesn’t help those who are just trying to do their jobs.
