I know down by Detroit there are medic's carrying pistols for protection and even bullet proof jackets, but does anyone else know of city's that are doing the same thing or even fire departments that have some sort of protection like a bullet proof jacket. this seems to be a growing concern out there for everyone, just wanted to see your view on this issue.
During my First Responder Class my instructor told us...that if we are dispatched to a shooting, stabbing, ect. 2 wait on the "blue light special" 2 have the scene controlled before we enter and put ourselves in further danger...
This is a bad idea . Like other brothers and sisters alread stated let the boys in blue go in first . I have been in Law Enforcement for 9 yrs . Do not get yourself in a situation that you may loss everything that you have ,because you wanted to carry a firearm.I carry a vest with me just in case . If you feel something is wrong back out and go to your rig and said that you forgot something .Your safety comes first .
Some classes out their from HSS International Tactical Medic .Here in Pennsylvania EMS Street Survival.
Do you have cops that go to every call with you, probably not and sometimes your giving false details from central so you dont always know what your getting your self into tell your on scene.
some of our areas that we respond to do have bullet proof vest but no guns and as many have pointed out very smartly so. it would just be a problem that i feel i dont need to have as a extra responsiblity to me
someone taking it from me and the whole host of other reasons that were pointed out prior
You wouldhave to be a complete retard to carry a gun on even bullets into a house fire but in my opinion i think all medics and fire fighters need to have one locked in there vehicle. Sometimes the calls come in as a regular medical call this happened to us. We arrived on scene to a medical emergency no need for pd on that. We knocked on the front door no answer so we go around to the side as we approach dispatch comes over the radio and says possible sucuide att but it was to late. Right as we start to turn around side door opens and guy steps out covered in blood with a gun in his hand we take off back to the truck and he chases us, gun pointed at us luckily the guy tripped and fell and the gun slid way out in front of him so i turn around and pick it up . We got back in the truck and radio for pd to step it up. I truly believe god was looking out for us that day because if he wouldnt have tripped i believe he would have shot us in the back. Mean while our caption was in the truck if there was a gun in our truck and he hadnt have tripped that gun would have probably saved our lives. So for me and where i work where we have the highest murder rate in the country i would feel much safer with one in the truck.They use to issue vests years back but not anymore wish we had themsometimes. Our medics work for county and are mostly female and a lot of times they arrive on scene first no matter what the call is. It can be the least of a emergency i have seen our calls go from ok to all out war. Even the power men carry guns where we work now because of being robbed so many times . They wont even come on scene after dark unless pd escorts them or were there they will not go by thereself after dark and i dont blame them one bit. I think it really depends on where you work and i can tell you that where i work i would feel much safer with one .
I have a vest, because of my 2nd job as an armed guard. Last week we were alerted to a burglary with the theft of several weapons in the district and suspects still at large. I moved the vest to my front door in case we got a fire or ems call, that day, however I do not bring it to the firehouse as a matter practice. I am not against ballistic vests as PPE, they are no different then any other PPE out there.
As for weapons, I have always used the half joking statement that the last thing I want with me in a fire are lots of little bombs. Serious opinion, funy way of saying it. As for EMS calls, we have an administrative regulation in CT that forbids EMT's who are not sworn law enforcement officers from carrying firearms while performing their duties. We have an old rule that was written locally, in the 1960's for response to civil unrest, that not only forbids weapons but also makeshift weapons like using axes and halligans for defensive purposes.
I actually have another problem with these restrictions. A few years ago CT started mandatory training and licensing for Security Officers. Part of that class is a very short introduction to first aid and triage. You get a waiver on that part if you are an EMT. This is because the State Police decided that they want Security Officer to know how to do first aid, and recognize that EMT exceeds this requirement. Our department of health still has the requirement that I can not practice as an EMT with a firearm, thus when working in security, I could actually be in a position of not being able to provide all the care I am trained and certified to give. It is a case of two state agencies that never read each others requirements. I have often wondered where the liability sits in such a case.