Should EMS be armed

[BossyCow]

I have guns. Several. I enjoy shooting, hunting, and skeet.

I have enough respect for firearms to know that the enclosed metal box of an ambulance is not the optimum location for discharging a firearm. My local ER will not allow firearms within its walls. We had to transport a LEO who had been injured, before getting into the ambulance, he had to leave his weapon with another officer because otherwise he would have been refused admitance to the ER.

Of course, on duty officers, who are escorting prisoners to the ER for treatment remain armed. But when the LEO pt disrobes for an exam, where does the gun go? Who is responsible for its security, making sure it doesn't get into the hands of another pt?

I love our local LEOs. They have had my back more times than I can count. But, to me, it's a matter of focus. When I am on a scene, I want to be able to do my job. My job is patient care.

There are a lot of posts on here about the conflict between the fire service and EMS. I would suggest that those of you who think EMS should carry weapons, read some of those posts. Only substitute Law Enforcement for Fire. If you want to shoot people, arrest people, and generally be a bad A** M. F. with everyone very impressed with your personal power, join a law enforcement agency. There are those positions of tactical medic. But if you can't use your brain to either avoid or de-escalate a dangerous situation, then you have other issues besides your right to carry a weapon.

 

[BLSBoy]

I am not sure I totally agree with that. I am not talking about your opinion, but your reasoning. People still trust police officers, at least, that is the majority opinion as I know it. I think in areas where it is warranted due to response times and or police support, the population would probably at least understand it if not fully support it, as long as they are given the facts.

You don't get into urban areas often, do you?

 

[reaper]

I have guns. Several. I enjoy shooting, hunting, and skeet.

I have enough respect for firearms to know that the enclosed metal box of an ambulance is not the optimum location for discharging a firearm. My local ER will not allow firearms within its walls. We had to transport a LEO who had been injured, before getting into the ambulance, he had to leave his weapon with another officer because otherwise he would have been refused admitance to the ER.

Of course, on duty officers, who are escorting prisoners to the ER for treatment remain armed. But when the LEO pt disrobes for an exam, where does the gun go? Who is responsible for its security, making sure it doesn't get into the hands of another pt?

I love our local LEOs. They have had my back more times than I can count. But, to me, it's a matter of focus. When I am on a scene, I want to be able to do my job. My job is patient care.

There are a lot of posts on here about the conflict between the fire service and EMS. I would suggest that those of you who think EMS should carry weapons, read some of those posts. Only substitute Law Enforcement for Fire. If you want to shoot people, arrest people, and generally be a bad A** M. F. with everyone very impressed with your personal power, join a law enforcement agency. There are those positions of tactical medic. But if you can't use your brain to either avoid or de-escalate a dangerous situation, then you have other issues besides your right to carry a weapon.

But, no one is talking about shooting people or arresting people! They are talking about defending themselves. Not all situations can be de-escalated or avoided. There are times when self defense comes into play.

 

[reaper]

You don't get into urban areas often, do you?

I have worked Urban areas my whole career. Some worse then NJ would ever see. I still see trust of LEO's in the majority of the public!

 

[BLSBoy]

I have worked Urban areas my whole career. Some worse then NJ would ever see. I still see trust of LEO's in the majority of the public!

Majority of public and majority of our patients are two completely different things.
I try my very best to set myself apart in looks from LEOs. Neon green jacket with reflective striping and PARAMEDIC on the back, pink shears, hat with MICP patch on it, and I do NOT wear my badge.
I still get mistaken when I am seen from behind and I have no jacket on.
I have been assaulted several times because I looked similar to a LEO.

I have the utmost respect for my Brothers in Blue, but to say they are well respected would be an overstatement.
It really is sad, but it seems to be the culture. Hate "da man" and authority.

 

[reaper]

Those are a small majority! Do you really think that anyone breaking the law is ever going to respect the law?

 

[BLSBoy]

Ever hear an 8 year old who thinks you are the cops tell you to f*&k off?
I'm pretty sure they don't teach that in school.

 

[reaper]

Ever hear an 8 year old who thinks you are the cops tell you to f*&k off?
I'm pretty sure they don't teach that in school.

Yes, quit often. It is called culture they are raised in and a few more terms I will not say here!

 

[fortsmithman]

If one enters a scene and the pt is pointing a pistol at you if the pt sees you trying to draw a pistol you get shot. One of our members while working EMS down east had a firearm pointed at her I think herand her partner were able to talk the pt out of it.

 

[reaper]

Yeah, OK!!!!!!!

 

[BLSBoy]

Its becoming more and more prevalant.
You have marches in Oakland to protest the killing of a POS who MURDERED four Brother Officers.
Children telling adults to piss off, to censor it, since the modagods would stroke out should we put what happens in real life here.
I honestly just don't see the respect that was once there anymore.
I was raised to honor and respect authority. It wasn't all that long ago I was being raised.
Living and working where I do, I see the complete opposite.

 

[reaper]

You hit the nail on the head! You have to actually care about raising your children first!

 

[BLSBoy]

How bout actually caring for the kids in the first place, instead of treating them like the accidental tax breaks they are treated as?:glare:

 

[AJ Hidell]

How bout actually caring for the kids in the first place, instead of treating them like the accidental tax breaks they are treated as?:glare:

Problem is, it's so expensive to prove who the daddy is.

 

[curt]

But if we give medics Tasers, aren't a lot of them going to be emboldened to stand their ground and fight it out rather than just departing the danger zone? Aren't we going to have a lot of medics running into dangerous scenes that they would not have entered if they didn't have the Taser? What if the Taser puts someone's eye out? What if it kills someone? What if it is taken from them and used against them?

Oh dear, you've gone and broke my sarcasm detector.

And I'd rather have the ability to shoot someone before they shoot me.

You see, there's not really a big difference in what we "want". It's just that I am willing to take responsibility for my own safety and you are not.

So, since I'm guessing you know what you're talking about (no sarcasm intended), what exactly ARE the crippling limitations to a taser that makes a handgun such a massively superior choice? It's not like it takes any longer to shoot than a handgun- unless you plan on adopting a bystander or anyone within the next quarter-mile life-incompatible method of spray and pray. In an urban environment, you need to make sure your bullets are going to go where you mean them to, otherwise it'd be far too easy to accidentally kill little Suzy Bystander or Danny Dad up the street, so I don't see why it'd take terribly much longer to use a taser.

Also, how is not outright killing the guy not taking responsibility for my safety? If he can't shoot me, he can't shoot me, and he'll reach that state much faster by riding the lightning than by bleeding out and that's all that matters.

 

[ffemt8978]

Yes, I think I'd feel quite comfortable with my pard and I carrying tasers, not more, not less. Still, it's no excuse to forgo standard precautions and LEO backup.

Yep, Tasers are real effective.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--slow-speedchase0329mar29,0,4189872.story

 

[medic417]

Yep, Tasers are real effective.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--slow-speedchase0329mar29,0,4189872.story

And watch an episode of cops. Many times they have to taze more than once or with multiple tazers to get the poor criminal to cooperate.

Tazers are not effective on everyone and they are a one shot then reload if you miss. Odds are you will just piss the person off then instead of killing you quick they will play a little before killing you.

 

[Sasha]

And watch an episode of cops. Many times they have to taze more than once or with multiple tazers to get the poor criminal to cooperate.

Tazers are not effective on everyone and they are a one shot then reload if you miss. Odds are you will just piss the person off then instead of killing you quick they will play a little before killing you.

And reaching for your gun to shoot them wont piss them off?

 

[Sasha]

How bout actually caring for the kids in the first place, instead of treating them like the accidental tax breaks they are treated as?:glare:

Kids now and days need a good bum beating once in awhile.

Time outs are ineffective, especially if the kid could entertain themselves.

 

[amberdt03]

Kids now and days need a good bum beating once in awhile.

i agree. where was cps when i was getting my a$$ spanked. i once got spanked in front of 2 cops and they didn't even say a word to my mom. people are way too sensitive now days.