EMS Carrying Firearms

[ffemt8978]

For the love of the One Eyed Flying Spaghetti Monster (or whatever deity you prefer) will someone please close this thread?!

It hasn't violated any of our forum rules yet, although it has come close.

As such, it has become the focus of my complete and undivided attention.

 

[Veneficus]

For the love of the One Eyed Flying Spaghetti Monster (or whatever deity you prefer) will someone please close this thread?!

Don't be a killjoy

I am having fun.

 

[tacitblue]

I have found these armed EMS debates usually divide into lines based on a person's political persuasion. I happen to be a liberal who favors gun control, and I also believe that arming EMS providers makes as much sense as arming emergency nurses and physicians. They face the same threat of attack as we do, and often in my area, are physically assaulted more often then we are.

When the zombie apocalypse comes to fruition, pick up your guns. Until then, your fears are irrational.

 

[nwhitney]

It hasn't violated any of our forum rules yet, although it has come close.

As such, it has become the focus of my complete and undivided attention.

Fair enough

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

It hasn't violated any of our forum rules yet, although it has come close.

As such, it has become the focus of my complete and undivided attention.

BTW, I missed Sheriff-ffemt too...

 

[Tigger]

Hmmm.... and you felt safe transporting a patient with a firearm? Are you crazy? PD would be summoned to take possession of the firearm before we go anywhere. Not to mention, no hospital around here would ever approve of a firearm being brought into their facility and I highly doubt most hospital security is okay with handling a firearm and being responsible for it.

For what it's worth every hospital should have a procedure for dealing with this, what happens when someone that's carrying comes through triage? Not everyone has a means to secure their firearm in their vehicle, and the hospitals that I am familiar with have safe for patient firearms.

 

[18G]

Why? They are not threatening me. They are legal to carry. I stated that it was explained they would have to turn over to security at the hospital. If security is so incompetent to not be able to secure the firearm they should not be security. But if they really are LE can meet ambulance at hospital and secure for them. Many hospitals actually have lock boxes that the patient can even place the firearm or other valuables in and reclaim it when released from the hospital.

It is not the gun that kills people it is the person with it. When you read the criminal stats of people that are licensed to carry you will find less criminal activity than you will from all the rest of mankind. So if they are legal odds are more in your favor that they intend you no harm than the patients that aren't licensed to carry whether they are carrying or not.

I won't be betting my life or anyone else's on that logic. An ambulance and hospital is no place for a patient to have a firearm period. As Vene pointed out.... you don't always know what state your patient is in or when they will decide to shoot you in the face. Good luck finding a place to run or hide in the back of your ambulance. Just avoid the entire possibility by NOT transporting a patient armed with a weapon of any sort.

And most hospital security staff don't even carry guns. Most may not even know how to safely handle a firearm. Again, not a good situation.

 

[18G]

For what it's worth every hospital should have a procedure for dealing with this, what happens when someone that's carrying comes through triage? Not everyone has a means to secure their firearm in their vehicle, and the hospitals that I am familiar with have safe for patient firearms.

If someone is stupid enough to bring a gun with them to a hospital that raises a red flag right there. I feel pretty confident that the general public is well aware that you don't bring guns to hospitals or schools. If they are that ignorant than the gun gets placed "somewhere" relatively safe until PD can arrive to take possession of it. I been to a lot of different hospitals and never seen one that had dedicated gun storage lockers.

And a person's firearm is more secure locked in their vehicle than in a hospital.

 

[Shishkabob]

Should EMS providers have the right to be armed if they want? Yes.


Will it happen? No.

If they are that ignorant

You work in EMS, right?

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

Let me fix that for ya...

Should Americans have the right to be armed if they want? Yes.

Will it happen? Not until we uphold the constitution.

BTW, missed ya too Linuss...

 

[Tigger]

I won't be betting my life or anyone else's on that logic. An ambulance and hospital is no place for a patient to have a firearm period. As Vene pointed out.... you don't always know what state your patient is in or when they will decide to shoot you in the face. Good luck finding a place to run or hide in the back of your ambulance. Just avoid the entire possibility by NOT transporting a patient armed with a weapon of any sort.

And most hospital security staff don't even carry guns. Most may not even know how to safely handle a firearm. Again, not a good situation.

Perhaps where you are this is the case, but I can assure that it is not the case everywhere. I know of hospitals with their own police departments, as well as some that use private firms to provide security with armed guards. Even at facilities without armed staff, often times they are still trained to safely handle a firearm, which is not exactly a difficult skill.

If someone is stupid enough to bring a gun with them to a hospital that raises a red flag right there. I feel pretty confident that the general public is well aware that you don't bring guns to hospitals or schools. If they are that ignorant than the gun gets placed "somewhere" relatively safe until PD can arrive to take possession of it. I been to a lot of different hospitals and never seen one that had dedicated gun storage lockers.

And a person's firearm is more secure locked in their vehicle than in a hospital.

Again, maybe where you are people are more aware, but that just isn't the case in some places. Hell one of the hospitals where I work in hospital doesn't even have a "firearms prohibited" sign that is clearly visible due to construction right now. In places where concealed carry is common (like much of Colorado), people do bring guns to hospitals on occasion for one reason or another. Sometimes they get dropped off at the ER, necessitating security to take possession of their firearm.

Now mind you, I still do not support EMS providers carrying firearms, rather I'm just pointing out generalizations don't do much for either side's argument given that local conditions often vary quite a bit.

 

[enjoynz]

Maybe in the back streets/hills of drug run South American EMS might think about such measures as guns. Not that I'd see it as really being of any benefit.

A bullet-proof vest and helmet would be a better option,if you feel that you are going to work under those conditions.
Then again, going by a policeman friend of ours,they are very restrictive to wear. I can't imagine doing effective CPR wearing one ( I would be interested to know if any of the members on the site that have done so?).

As I think I've said on here before....New Zealanders don't have "The Right to bear arms." like Americans do...nor would I ever want it to be like that here.

 

[R99]

Maybe in the back streets/hills of drug run South American EMS might think about such measures as guns)

Been to Mangere or Papakura lately lol

 

[mycrofft]

Not closed yet? Don't make me bring out the angry nun again!

5=4 :deadhorse:

carry on without me and The Penguin.

 

[Remeber343]

CPR with a ballistics vest on is not difficult at all.

 

[RocketMedic]

Depends...doing patient care in an IOTV is rediculous.

 

[bigbaldguy]

Somebody said crossbow. Screw the gun I wanna crossbow.

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

Somebody said crossbow. Screw the gun I wanna crossbow.

WALKING DEAD... I've lot my cross bow and machete...

 

[enjoynz]

Been to Mangere or Papakura lately lol

Well actually if you have to know, I worked in Manurewa, so I'm pretty up with the play on both those areas and lived in Auckland for 15 years.
NZ is nothing compared with the States (hence why they still deem our police force should not carry guns on their person!).
The drug lords and rings in South America are even worse!
Mind you, the crim's in the areas you refer too...learnt most of want they know by following American gang culture...and over active minds
because of X-box and play station (which have probably been stolen in their last spree!):glare:

P.S. Sorry if I'm getting off topic!

 

[DrParasite]

if i need pd, i can request them and they are usually quick. they understand that if EMS is requesting, then fecal matter is striking the air circulating device.

but we operate independantly of PD, and its not just one city in NJ, many larger towns and cities operate this way. Newark, Jersey City, Camden, Paterson, Woodbridge, Edison, Perth Amboy, Atlantic City, PD just isnt an automatic dispatch, EMS needs to have its head on a swivel and always be situationally aware. I never really thought of it as a big deal. It wasnt until i came to EMTLife when i discovered that some systems send a radio car to EVERY call

Lets add Irvington, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Plainfield, Elizabeth to that list of places where a cop doesn't arrive first at an EMS call.

Outside of NJ, the list includes Detroit, Philly, Flint Mi, St Louis, Baltimore (City). What do five of those cities, plus Newark and Camden have in common? They are 7 out of 10 of the most dangerous cities according to the FBI (http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2011/City_Lo-Hi_2011.pdf)

You call for help, and hope a cop is around the corner and available to assist.

I don't think aiming and shooting at an assailant will save your life.

I do think having a gun visible in a holster might make a person think twice about trying to hurt you, and act like a really good deterant. but if they are going to do anything, no, having a gun won't save you.