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Canadian Operational and Emotional Prehospital Readiness for a Tactical Violence Event

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Daniel Kollek ,
Michelle Welsford  and
Karen Wanger
Daniel Kollek*
Affiliation:
Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Michelle Welsford
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada; Medical Director, HHS Centre for Paramedic Education & Research
Karen Wanger
Affiliation:
Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Family Practice, University of British Columbia; Regional Medical Director, British Columbia Ambulance Service, British Columbia Canada
*
Clinical Associate Professor Division of Emergency Medicine McMaster University 4000 Creekside Drive, Unit 902 Dundas, ON, Canada L9H 7S9 E-mail: kollek@ceep.ca
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Abstract

Abstract Providing prehospital care poses unique risks. Paramedics are essentially the only medical personnel who are routinely at the scene of violent episodes, and they are more likely to be assaulted than are other prehospital personnel. In addition to individual acts of violence, emergency medical services (EMS) providers now need to cope with tactical violence, defined as the deployment of extreme violence in a non-random fashion to achieve tactical or strategic goals. This study reviewed two topics; the readiness of EMS crews for violence in their environment and the impact of violence on the EMS crew member. This latter also evaluated the access and effectiveness of emotional support available to caregivers exposed to violent episodes.

The results of the survey indicate a significant lack of preparedness for situations involving tactical violence. A total of 89% of respondents either had never had such training or had been trained more than one year ago. Thirty-six percent of respondents had never engaged in a field exercise with other responding agencies, and 4.5% of respondents were not aware of who would be in charge in such an event. In addition, this study indicates that EMS crews are exposed to events with significant emotional impacts without access to appropriate training and adequate support.

Keywords

Canadaemergency medical servicesemotional responseprehospitalreadinesstactical violence
Type
Research Article
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 164 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2010

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