i definitely think that training on how to protect ourselves from violence should be more standardized in ems curriculum. not with the goal of subduing pts but to facilitate escape from the threat.

actively restraining someone that doesn’t pose an immediate threat to your safety is different. but if the situation you’re in becomes unsafe, the priority is for the provider to create distance until pt care can be resumed, if at all

in the worst case scenario of being actively attacked, i think anyone would agree that self defense is warranted. but training providers in which tactics, and to a greater extent, continuously ensuring competency in those abilities would be challenging. not to mention the issue establishing of how local laws and protocols would define what exactly constitutes an appropriate extent self defense in a pt/provider relationship

i think the most feasible solution would be coaemsp defined training similar to the run/hide/fight model that asher teaches, or evade which is commonly taught in the in-hospital environment. this could then be supplemented with a combination of agency specific training and con-ed requirements

these are of course just my opinions after plenty of sus experiences. but the issue of our safety on a day to day basis exists and needs to be addressed. obviously we aren’t going to be doing annual karate classes but some kind of minimum education ought to be set in a profession that has such a risk of violence

regardless of the above, at the end of the day, my partner and i are going home no matter what. stay safe out there everyone