Grady_emt
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For some reason I have had a run of combative patients recently. Have not had a decent trauma or cardiac patient in weeks now. Two post-ictal siezure patients, and overdose on unkn substance, an organic brain disease pt in a nursing home...
It all came to a head last night when we had an ETOH family member who felt the need to dictate our treatment plan to us and then try to enforce it. He went straight from calm and cool to screaming, and posturing in a threatening manner. Unfortunately we were in the back bedroom of the house and were in the process of packaging his mother from a GLF in the tub. As I keyed up my radio to ask radio get PD enroute, he kept screaming and radio heard him. The dispatcher automatically activated a "signal 63" or "UNIT NEEDS HELP" without me asking, as she thought we were in deeper trouble than we were thank goodness.
A signal 63 activation is only to be used when an unit is in imminent danger and does the following: Notifies all upper level management, starts both Supervisors, starts the next closest unit, two AFD engines one of which must be ALS, Atlanta Police, Fulton County Sheriff, Fulton County Marshall, and Georgia State Patrol. If we are near the city limits, then the next municipality's PD will be requested as well. All radio traffic on that channel is moved to our TAC channel until the call is cleared
My partner and I attempted to exit the residence which only further irritated him and he kept attempting to block our primary exit route. I started working towards the back door when he took a swing at me. I used his momentum from the missed punch and pushed him to the ground where I managed to get both his hands behind him and keep him pinned to the ground with my partner's assistance. Within 4 minutes of my original help request APD was onscene and all other agencys were pulling into the neighborhood.
After being placed into custody by APD, he began resisting the officers and was OC sprayed, and then transported in custody by our 2nd due unit. Our supervisor allowed us to go home following the call if we chose to, however we both stayed and continued the shift.
Please, Please, Please, make sure that your agency has an organized plan should you ever be in a situation where you need help quickly. We didnt until one of our crews had a gun drawn on them by an deranged family member a few years ago. We now have status checks after 20 minutes onscene and every 10 thereafter, as well as our "Signal 63/UNIT NEEDS HELP".
Grateful to go home in one piece, except for a few scrapes and bruises from the tussle on the floor, I'm ready for a vacation.
It all came to a head last night when we had an ETOH family member who felt the need to dictate our treatment plan to us and then try to enforce it. He went straight from calm and cool to screaming, and posturing in a threatening manner. Unfortunately we were in the back bedroom of the house and were in the process of packaging his mother from a GLF in the tub. As I keyed up my radio to ask radio get PD enroute, he kept screaming and radio heard him. The dispatcher automatically activated a "signal 63" or "UNIT NEEDS HELP" without me asking, as she thought we were in deeper trouble than we were thank goodness.
A signal 63 activation is only to be used when an unit is in imminent danger and does the following: Notifies all upper level management, starts both Supervisors, starts the next closest unit, two AFD engines one of which must be ALS, Atlanta Police, Fulton County Sheriff, Fulton County Marshall, and Georgia State Patrol. If we are near the city limits, then the next municipality's PD will be requested as well. All radio traffic on that channel is moved to our TAC channel until the call is cleared
My partner and I attempted to exit the residence which only further irritated him and he kept attempting to block our primary exit route. I started working towards the back door when he took a swing at me. I used his momentum from the missed punch and pushed him to the ground where I managed to get both his hands behind him and keep him pinned to the ground with my partner's assistance. Within 4 minutes of my original help request APD was onscene and all other agencys were pulling into the neighborhood.
After being placed into custody by APD, he began resisting the officers and was OC sprayed, and then transported in custody by our 2nd due unit. Our supervisor allowed us to go home following the call if we chose to, however we both stayed and continued the shift.
Please, Please, Please, make sure that your agency has an organized plan should you ever be in a situation where you need help quickly. We didnt until one of our crews had a gun drawn on them by an deranged family member a few years ago. We now have status checks after 20 minutes onscene and every 10 thereafter, as well as our "Signal 63/UNIT NEEDS HELP".
Grateful to go home in one piece, except for a few scrapes and bruises from the tussle on the floor, I'm ready for a vacation.