Councilman Suggests Ambulance Crew Ignore Safety

[mickeymedic]

So, my dis-friends...what do you think?

http://www.jems.com/article/news/councilman-calls-amr-policy-ch

JEMS | Friday, September 24, 2010


WAPT in Jackson, Mississippi reports that Councilman Kenneth Stokes is standing firm on his statment Thursday that AMR crews should have run into an active shooting incident to rescue a victim.

In an interview with WAPT Stokes is quoted as saying that rescuers should be willing to risk their lives in saving others. The heated comments started on Thursday when Stokes criticized AMR for not rushing in an rescuing Lee Joseph Martin, who was shot six times at the Pleasant Oaks Apartments. Stokes made the comment that if AMR cannot accept the risk, then they should change their policy of the city should take over the ambulance business.

AMR spokesman Jim Pollard reinforced the need for the scene to be secure before EMS personnel rush in. Pollard said it is national policy to have EMS units stage away from the scene until police have made arrests or made the scene safe to operate in by other means. Jerry Johnston, president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, also reinforced AMR's safety policy.

Councilman Stokes maintains that the city has a standard to make sure its citizens are safe, and if AMR is unable to meet that standard, they should break their contract.

I worked on an ambulance in a violent city for 10 years. EMTs and Paramedics are not armed. We do not wear bullet proof vests. We are not trained in combat methods. We are taught to protect ourselves first and foremost. We do not enter a scene until it is deemed "safe" - this is a basic principle in the US Department of Transportation national cirriculum for EMTs and Paramedics. In the case of a shooting - we let the police officers go in and secure the scene then we take care of the victims. Who does this councilman think is going to save the victims if the rescuers become victims themselves?

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

So, my dis-friends...what do you think?

http://www.jems.com/article/news/councilman-calls-amr-policy-ch




I worked on an ambulance in a violent city for 10 years. EMTs and Paramedics are not armed. We do not wear bullet proof vests. We are not trained in combat methods. We are taught to protect ourselves first and foremost. We do not enter a scene until it is deemed "safe" - this is a basic principle in the US Department of Transportation national cirriculum for EMTs and Paramedics. In the case of a shooting - we let the police officers go in and secure the scene then we take care of the victims. Who does this councilman think is going to save the victims if the rescuers become victims themselves?

I'd say the councilman would make a great human shield for the EMTs he wants to have entering active crime scenes.

 

[mickeymedic]

I'd say the councilman would make a great human shield for the EMTs he wants to have entering active crime scenes.

You must be a mind-reader. That was my first thought when I originally read the article.

 

[lsyorke]

The Councilman is an idiot! So an injured victim and dead EMT's makes sense to him? EMT's don't sign on to "risk their lives", they sign on to save others lives.

 

[december]

You have no idea. He really is an idiot, and makes sure he is on the news 3 or 4 nights a week. And refers to himself in 3rd person.......No one here is listening to what he has to say. And several people sent in comments like the above that were read on the news last week.

He called a city council meeting last week, and he was the only council member to show up. He was on the news sitting at the council table, surrounded by empty chairs. So you can see how seriously they take him.

He has been shown saying educated things like: White people, don't let your chil'ren move to Jackson. They just being prostitutes and buying drugs, and they ain't got no bizness here....This was after a young white male was found dead in a black neighborhood. (that wasn't a quote, but pretty darn close to the words he used) He is an embarrasment, but keeps getting elected.

 

[KathyTX]

The Councilman is an idiot! So an injured victim and dead EMT's makes sense to him? EMT's don't sign on to "risk their lives", they sign on to save others lives.

Exactly!

 

[MomRN]

Nutso. Not even the swat team goes into a hostile situation without protection.

I wonder if he'll be re-elected.

 

[mickeymedic]

You have no idea. He really is an idiot, and makes sure he is on the news 3 or 4 nights a week. And refers to himself in 3rd person.......No one here is listening to what he has to say. And several people sent in comments like the above that were read on the news last week.

He called a city council meeting last week, and he was the only council member to show up. He was on the news sitting at the council table, surrounded by empty chairs. So you can see how seriously they take him.

He has been shown saying educated things like: White people, don't let your chil'ren move to Jackson. They just being prostitutes and buying drugs, and they ain't got no bizness here....This was after a young white male was found dead in a black neighborhood. (that wasn't a quote, but pretty darn close to the words he used) He is an embarrasment, but keeps getting elected.

Glad to see no one there really takes him seriously.

 

[disneyfans95]

I have been a volunteer EMT-D for 15+ years and while we don't see the raw action that our paid friends so, we still all go with approaching a scene once it is deemed safe.

I have had a handful of shootings, domestic violence etc etc. Where active crimes are underway when we where there. We never acted until given a clear by the local PD.

Sorry but we are no use to anyone, dead. Plus as the OP said, we are not trained in anything but saving lives.

 

[december]

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/category.asp?C=195965

Link to local coverage. It is only a big deal because Kenneth I Stokes (as he refers to himself repeatedly) wants the attention. And yes, he will keep getting elected. Sad but true.

*eta: story is on p. 6, Stokes criticized amr.

 

[tvguy]

I monitor police and fire radios as part of my job.

On a violent crime they "stage" in the area of the call, or wait at the fire station until Police arrive and notify them the scene is secure.
I think calling this Councilman an idiot is an insult to idiots. He's below that, he has no common sense.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I can understand where he is coming from. My dad has worked in areas where the emts do nothing to help victims because the police never give the ok and thereby cause a great deal of unnecessary deaths. But this councilman really is not thinking things through. As others have posted, how is adding more victims to the situation going to help anyone?

 

[EMom]

I'd say the councilman would make a great human shield for the EMTs he wants to have entering active crime scenes.

I believe that thought went through a great many people's minds. "Here, councilman, YOU carry the stretcher. I insist."

 

[DisGirlAllie]

The first thing they taught in my first aid class is that you should not put yourself in danger to help someone else. It doesn't do anyone any good to have double the victims.

 

[Disneyland1084]

This is ridiculous! ALL paramedics and EMT's need to protect themselves. And common sense tells you when that's necessary.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

It would be a violation recognized standards of EMTs as well as 9-1-1 dispatch to send an ambulance crew into such a situation before the scene is deemed secure by the police. Does this idiot want the increased liability for failing to adhere to accepted best practices?

9-1-1 should only dispatch to a staging area in such circumstances. Often our ambulance crews will choose a staging point further from the scene than that selected by dispatch. If that means they are better off preparing themselves and waiting at the station for the all clear then that is exactly what they will do.

 

[Andrea464]

First thing I learned in EMT classes back in the day- scene safety. Getting yourself hurt doesn't do the patient any good. Don't enter a violent area until police clear it. Don't play in traffic. Get electrical stuff turned off.
The councilman sounds like a piece of work. Jerk-wad.

 

[Kimberly]

It would be a violation recognized standards of EMTs as well as 9-1-1 dispatch to send an ambulance crew into such a situation before the scene is deemed secure by the police. Does this idiot want the increased liability for failing to adhere to accepted best practices?

9-1-1 should only dispatch to a staging area in such circumstances. Often our ambulance crews will choose a staging point further from the scene than that selected by dispatch. If that means they are better off preparing themselves and waiting at the station for the all clear then that is exactly what they will do.

I'd like to say that I agree with everyone here in terms of sending the EMTs into a dangerous situation. It wouldn't do the patient any good if you have a wounded or dead EMT. In the states though, I know of various locations where the police will NOT administer first aid due to increased liability. They would just wait for the EMTs instead. This is according to a close friend of mine, who is an EMT in the city of Newark, NJ.

I understand only starting to help people once a crime scene is "safe," but this practice as stated by my friend, I find to be a bit difficult to swallow. I thought all police were trained as EMTs.

 

[onelilspark]

So if the EMTs rush in and get shot...who will revive them?

 

[cm8]

Nutso. Not even the swat team goes into a hostile situation without protection.

I wonder if he'll be re-elected.

Exactly......something tells me that he will be