I keep seeing people online debate about what they would've done if they were the paramedics that responded to George Floyd. Some people argue that they believe the scene was too unsafe or unpredictable to work the patient on scene. Some argue that some angry bystanders isn't a scene safety issue and they would've worked the patient on scene. It seems pretty split online and I am curious what EMTLife thinks.
If you haven't seen the video or do not want to watch it, here is a description.
WARNING: The video contains an officer on the patient, the patient saying he cannot breathe, angry bystanders, and ultimately the patient becoming unconscious and dying. The video is right here.
What do you think?
*** Please keep this civil and on topic (would you stay, go, or other?). This is not meant to be a discussion on police brutality or black lives, but assessing the paramedics' actions. I personally believe that there is no true right answer, it's a judgement call or preference, and I think there are pros and cons to each way. It's hard to tell when you don't work in a certain area (eg might feel fine working in Mountain View, CA with low crime rate, but not fine in Oakland, CA with high crime rate). It looks like resource is limited, and maybe some of us would be fine if we had more hands on deck (eg fire on scene as well), but since it didn't look like fire was on scene, those paramedics were by themselves. Feel free to add your thoughts on this or conditions that might make you change your mind on staying or going. Hopefully this will prepare you when you might end up in this situation, recorded, and judged by the rest of the world for your action or perceived lack of. ***
If you haven't seen the video or do not want to watch it, here is a description.
An officer is on the patient's neck while the patient is prone. The patient is awake and talking, he's telling the officers he cannot breathe, and bystanders are getting agitated. About 3-4 minutes before EMS arrives, it looks like the patient becomes unconscious and isn't breathing. The bystanders recognize that the patient may be in cardiac arrest and beg officers to check for a pulse, but the officers' actions do not change. When EMS arrive, they check the patient's pulse while he is still prone with an officer on his neck (a lot of people missed this and thought it was another officer, but Hennepin EMS looks like highway patrol/officers). The officer gets off the patient and they roll the patient while he is still handcuffed. The patient is loaded into the ambulance with no ventilation or chest compressions. There's no mention if the patient is in cardiac arrest yet or not.
WARNING: The video contains an officer on the patient, the patient saying he cannot breathe, angry bystanders, and ultimately the patient becoming unconscious and dying. The video is right here.
What do you think?
*** Please keep this civil and on topic (would you stay, go, or other?). This is not meant to be a discussion on police brutality or black lives, but assessing the paramedics' actions. I personally believe that there is no true right answer, it's a judgement call or preference, and I think there are pros and cons to each way. It's hard to tell when you don't work in a certain area (eg might feel fine working in Mountain View, CA with low crime rate, but not fine in Oakland, CA with high crime rate). It looks like resource is limited, and maybe some of us would be fine if we had more hands on deck (eg fire on scene as well), but since it didn't look like fire was on scene, those paramedics were by themselves. Feel free to add your thoughts on this or conditions that might make you change your mind on staying or going. Hopefully this will prepare you when you might end up in this situation, recorded, and judged by the rest of the world for your action or perceived lack of. ***