DT4EMS
Kip Teitsort, Founder
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Everyone in EMS has a passion.
Everyone in EMS has a passion. Some have a passion to care for the sick and injured period. Some have a passion to be the best at reading 12 Leads and treating cardiac related emergencies. Some have a passion to be the best educator they can be. All of these are equally “accepted” in EMS.
My passion is not so readily accepted. My passion is for the safety of EMS Providers. The reason it is not so readily accepted is still a mystery. According to a recent study jointly commissioned by the NAEMT and McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals reported that:
4 out of 5 medics are injured on the job:
52% assaulted by a patient
50% exposed to infectious disease
47% have sustained a back injury
21% have contracted an illness from a patient.
What is the highest number? Why do these studies pass like a flash in a pan? EMS providers will post a story of how they were attacked on scene then people in a forum will jump on them and ask “Where was scene safety” or talk about how they would have never let that happen to them.
More so than not, a person who had not been assaulted will be the biggest nay sayer, claiming that never happens. Well, tell that to Dave Dubay who had his back broken by a patient and ended his EMS career. Tell that to the female medic who had her face smashed with a pipe. Tell it to Woody who was shot with little warning by patient he transported several times in the past with no problem. Tell it to the medic who got her leg broken in the back of the ambulance recently. Tell it to ME when I had my ambulance car-jacked while loaded with a patient!
Just look at the “Body Assault Log” at http://www.emsnetwork.org and keep it in perspective.
You are told to glove up prior to getting out of the ambulance. A great preventative measure to address the infectious disease portion (50%).
You are told to check for scene safety. Again great preventative measure (The scene is not always as safe as you thought it was).
You have to take a “back test” and get trained in proper lifting of the stretcher……..well that’s the 47%er.
Where is the training to free you from actual assaults the biggest number up there? Now get the training for all “4” battles with DT4EMS. The battle of your mind, the actual physical assault, the media and the courtroom. If your training isn’t giving you skills for each it is lacking.
www.dt4ems.net is my passion in EMS.
Kip Teitsort EMT-P, I/C
Everyone in EMS has a passion. Some have a passion to care for the sick and injured period. Some have a passion to be the best at reading 12 Leads and treating cardiac related emergencies. Some have a passion to be the best educator they can be. All of these are equally “accepted” in EMS.
My passion is not so readily accepted. My passion is for the safety of EMS Providers. The reason it is not so readily accepted is still a mystery. According to a recent study jointly commissioned by the NAEMT and McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals reported that:
4 out of 5 medics are injured on the job:
52% assaulted by a patient
50% exposed to infectious disease
47% have sustained a back injury
21% have contracted an illness from a patient.
What is the highest number? Why do these studies pass like a flash in a pan? EMS providers will post a story of how they were attacked on scene then people in a forum will jump on them and ask “Where was scene safety” or talk about how they would have never let that happen to them.
More so than not, a person who had not been assaulted will be the biggest nay sayer, claiming that never happens. Well, tell that to Dave Dubay who had his back broken by a patient and ended his EMS career. Tell that to the female medic who had her face smashed with a pipe. Tell it to Woody who was shot with little warning by patient he transported several times in the past with no problem. Tell it to the medic who got her leg broken in the back of the ambulance recently. Tell it to ME when I had my ambulance car-jacked while loaded with a patient!
Just look at the “Body Assault Log” at http://www.emsnetwork.org and keep it in perspective.
You are told to glove up prior to getting out of the ambulance. A great preventative measure to address the infectious disease portion (50%).
You are told to check for scene safety. Again great preventative measure (The scene is not always as safe as you thought it was).
You have to take a “back test” and get trained in proper lifting of the stretcher……..well that’s the 47%er.
Where is the training to free you from actual assaults the biggest number up there? Now get the training for all “4” battles with DT4EMS. The battle of your mind, the actual physical assault, the media and the courtroom. If your training isn’t giving you skills for each it is lacking.
www.dt4ems.net is my passion in EMS.
Kip Teitsort EMT-P, I/C
