Who honestly believes they will actually have time to deploy a weapon when they are in as close proximity to the pt as they are? Coming from law enforcement and a military background (went 4F/medically disqualified, long story, but that's how I ended up in EMS) it was unnerving to get within two body-lengths of a person requiring emergency attention. Even at that distance you don't really have time to properly deploy a handgun, even if it is at the optimal place on your hip/waist/shoulder/whatever. Basically that distance gives you enough time to evade an assault, creating the time to deploy your self defense mechanism.
EMS example: pt recently arrested, DFO's (fake or not), LE removes pt from restraints/cuffs to assess ABC's/start cpr. When you arrive you don't assess from 12ft away, you assess while kneeling/leaning over the patient. You are within a foot away, your torso is exposed, and both hands are occupied getting a BP, auscultating lung sounds, checking pulse, whathaveyou. During the assessment the pt comes to. Any pt in custody worth his salt will wait until you are the most vulnerable, let's say, kneeling at his right side, auscultating left lung sounds. Pt lunges, be it with a concealed blade he had, or a rock he grabs, or even a hand with an insanely strong, adrenaline (or other substance) fueled grip. "Oh wait please while I withdraw my knife, unfold it, and grip it properly." or "Excuse me but I need to unbutton the snap on my holster, withdraw my handgun which extends my arms seven inches, and maneuver it to point at you." Don't even get me started with, "STOP! Or I'll trauma shear your A--!!!!" Don't think so. By then you're gonna be bleeding, or about to bleed from your own weapon. (There is no such thing as a 100% secure draw) It would be pretty embarassing to get stabbed by your own knife on scene in front of everyone while trying to play the EMS bada--.
Unfortunately in these days of ambulance chasers, lawsuits, and the myriad of use-of-force laws the all around safest answer you have is to block and retreat, if you can. As was mentioned previously in this post EMS personnel are not even granted the same self-defense privileges that the ordinary citizen is. To be fair, the law does apply to EMS and citizens equally, however the level of legal scrutiny gives us a distinct disadvantage. LE is trained to control the threat, and retreat if necessary. Military is taught to neutralize the threat (though that is becoming heavily bureaucratized in and of itself). That's part of their job, just as being safe on scene is a part of ours. As was also mentioned previously, "EMT kills patient" is not a good headline. Even "EMT kills patient in self-defense" is not a good headline. As I understand it citizens (and theoretically EMS personnel) are allowed to escalate the level of force by one level in attempts to subdue an assailant. Seeing as that could theoretically lead to the death of the other, both of those above headlines are very possible.
Following the advice given to me, preempt as much of the threat as possible by becoming an EMS brick until the scene is as safe as humanly possible! Trust me I'm still learning all this, I'm a rookie, but just this morning I had an ETOH pt w/a stab wound to his right shoulder throw a left at me. I was able to dodge it and pin his arm across his chest while I got my feet under me. Then I stood up and backed away.
(and for the record I am a proud gun owner/carrier/advocate and have citation awards in tactical pistol and rifle, working on tactical shotgun. Originally from Washington State and moving back there in May, glad to see an ally BossyCow!!!)
