Two Attacks In Less Than A Year, Had Very Different Outcomes
I spent the first 10 years of my working life in EMS, first as an EMT, then as a Paramedic. As a result, I know just how dangerous the job can be. For instance, I once had a patient try to access a firearm and then attack me with a butcher knife (thank God, I was able to disarm her). In this case, as in many others, we were on scene alone because the call turned out to be very different than the dispatch assessment indicated. Had the dispatcher been able to determine what was actually going on at the other end of the phone line (frequently an impossible task) – law enforcement would have responded with us. In some places law enforcement responds to every ambulance call, but in most places this simply is not possible – especially if police budgets are cut.
In December of last year, an ambulance responded to want was reportedly a medical call in Pine Bluff Arkansas. It turned out to be a domestic dispute, with a woman being injured. In an effort to clear the scene, and the danger, as quickly as possible, they moved the patient to their ambulance. Before they could begin transport, the man involved in the domestic dispute appeared at the back of the unit and began firing at the two medics and the patient. Both EMS workers were hit, but one of them was armed and returned fire – saving himself, his partner and the patient. The would be murderer retreated to the home where he died.
A local news report covering the Arkansas incident
Of course, had dispatch known what was actually going on at the other end of the phone, law enforcement would have been dispatched and likely no one would have been hurt. However, in the real world, incidents like this, and my near stabbing, will continue to happen.
In addition to the danger from mis-dispatched calls, EMTs and Paramedics are in danger simply because they are in uniform. Such was the case this week in Tucson, where two AMR EMTs were shot, one in the head, by a would be mass murderer, as part of his attack on Fire, EMS, and law enforcement personnel. There is no indication that either EMT was armed.
Would the situation have been different had these EMTs been able to shoot back? This is, of course, impossible to know. They may have not been able to get even one shot off – or they might have been able to return fire and incapacitate the assailant. There is no way to know – but one thing is certain: The fact that they were not able to be armed insured that they could do nothing to stop this murderer. In addition to their own injuries, this evil man killed at least one more person after shooting the ambulance crew. Had one of the EMTs been armed, this death may have also been averted.
Local News Report On The Tucson Shooting
So, what will it take to enable EMTs and Paramedics to be able to defend themselves?
First, employers need to be exempted from liability.
Second, employers need to be required to allow EMTs and Paramedics to carry concealed, provided that…
Third, those carrying meet minimum training requirements. Since we are talking only about defense of self and patients, these requirements should not should not exceed half the minimum standard required for police officer certification, or 20 hrs.
Fourth, affordable insurance must be available for those who choose to carry.
Fifth, the law must protect the right of EMS employees not to carry.
If all of the above can be accomplished, then those who come when you call for medical assistance will be significantly safer.
Rev. R. Vincent Warde
7/21/2021
