Originally posted by Wingnut@Aug 3 2005, 12:35 PM
I don't know how anyone could think that there isn't any risk. I've had VERY limited field experience, but anyone could be attacked at any time, even walking to the corner store isn't safe. Home isn't safe (I've been attacked twice personally by family members) Now grant it, I live with a cop, my brother is one, and damn near every party/function we go to is usually nothing but cops, so I always hear the stories that don't get published in the paper of how people are attacked and taken advantage of just grocery shopping or getting gas. I'm definitly paranoid to a degree. Anything can happen anywhere and in EMS we are at a much higher risk, because of the situations we go into. I know over half the calls I've gone on were "unknown" and that's not exactly the best way to go into a strangers house. I really hope there aren't people out there in any of the "high- liability" fields who think they are immune to danger just because they're wearing a uniform.
DT, I enjoy reading your articles, I hope you continue to post them. 
Thanks so much for your support. I did want to make a comment about "paranoia".
First of all ans "preparation" that a person does for a violent encounter is NOT paranoia. There are hundreds of women throughout the US that take some form of Rape Prevention, Womens self-defense class or whatever to be more prepared. That is by no means paranoia.
As a medic I have had to prove proficinecy yearly in a surgical cric. I am not "paranoid" that I may have to do it, only prepared. I don't walk into every SOB call with a scalpel in hand.
The same is true for preparation for self-protection. I don't go to every call worried that I WILL BE, only that it is a real (according to the new numbers) possibility that it "COULD" occur.
Since there are several stages to any attack, hopefully training will help you recognize the stages and prevent and attack. Just don't rely soley on recognition. You have to have some "Real-World" skills to escape if the need arises.
It is the future of EMS to provide some form of self-defense training. Like it or not, the numbers speak for themselves. So agencies will begin to step up and bring it to you. IF not, they are only opening themselves up for lawsuits because they KNOW the threat exists.
Until then, there is a great book by Krebs "When Violence Errupts." I was given a copy and found it to be the BEST book out there to help with "recognition" and overall scene safety for EMS providers. (and NO I DO NOT SELL IT) I have never even talked to the man.
Trainign resources are limited. If you train in a martial arts school (that's great) refer back to my elbow control articls and look at the "Assault Response Levels" or stop a cop and ask the mabout the "Force Continuum". Then review what you were taught in the martial arts class and see where it goes in relationship to any given attack.
Then practice your documentation as "What THEY did to MAKE YOU do what you did" not the other way around.
You have to protect yourself both in the field and the courtroom. Lawyers are good at what they do. They prepare way in advance to trick you while you are on the stand. It is not wrong, it is their job. So document in a timeline..........
Ah heck, I will just do a documentaition article.
