By Allison G.S. Knox
Contributor, EDM Digest
One of the most dangerous moments for a member of the public safety community comes when responding to a 911 emergency. Police, fire and emergency medical services respond to these calls with a limited amount of information. While they might have the address and a general idea of what the emergency is, they do not know the entire situation until they arrive on the scene.
Psychiatric emergencies can be dangerous to individuals responding to 911 calls and to family members or friends at home with the patient. More specialized training is needed to help those responding to 911 emergencies understand how to deal with dangerous situations and when they could be in an unsafe situation.
When a Psychiatric Patient Changes an Emergency’s Course
In 2013, a 911 caller held five members of the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services hostage after he claimed to be experiencing chest pains. But when the firefighters entered the home, the situation took a very different turn.
The “patient” wasn’t suffering from chest pains at all. Instead, he took the firefighters hostage. A SWAT team was called in and the perpetrator was killed. None of the firefighters was harmed, but this type of situation merits serious consideration in the public safety community.
Should First Responders Carry Weapons to Defend Themselves?
There have been suggestions that emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firefighters should carry firearms to protect themselves when they respond to 911 emergencies. The concept is controversial; first responders and legislators are without easy answers regarding whether or not arming first responders would sufficiently protect them from harm.
Some people argue that firefighters carrying firearms would have drastically changed the dynamics of the Gwinnett County hostage situation. Others even argue there are legal considerations when it comes to this particular policy.
Understanding Psychiatric Emergencies
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics often encounter psychiatric emergencies, given the nature of 911 calls. One study recommends that EMTs and paramedics should treat all patients as having an altered mental status until the patient proves otherwise – a presumption the authors say would help tremendously to protect first responders from dangerous situations.
Furthermore, emergency medical technicians and paramedics need training in trusting their instincts and figuring out specifically how to work with patients who make them feel uneasy. Without this type of customized training or creating policies that specifically support these hazardous situations, the safety of first responders could be compromised.
Specialized Safety Training Is Vital for Treating Psychiatric Patients
Most states and emergency medical services agencies require EMTs and paramedics to attend continuing education classes. These valuable training sessions help first responders sharpen their skills when they respond to emergencies. But specialized training for responding to specific psychiatric emergencies (i.e. schizophrenia or homicidal ideation) is needed to keep first responders safe.
In addition, self-defense training is a tremendous asset to any agency because numerous policies and laws complicate how EMTs and paramedics respond to these emergencies.
Without Training, First Responders Remain at Risk
For public safety professionals, responding to any 911 emergency has numerous safety issues.
What is needed are self-defense classes that specifically take all policies and laws into consideration when individuals respond to 911 emergencies.
More training can help prepare public safety professionals for exceptional and dangerous emergency situations.
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