EMS Taser in testing

[Just Plain Ruff]

I knew that WANTYNU user guy was nothing but trouble. Here's a news story about him that just chaps my hide.

To think that he's doing this, it's going to be pandemonium in the backs of ambulances across the globe.

http://callthecops.net/ems-taster-taken-production-due-safety-concerns/

[ERDoc]

I love callthecops. They crack me up all the time.

[Caduceus]

Heh. . .

[island emt]

He was a regular poster here back in the beginning of the city.

If I need a tazer , then odds are we probably have gotten way past the point of putting ourselves in danger anyway.

[Emt308]

I love call the cops. Stories always give me a good laugh. You should also try theonion.com

[HellsBells]

I love the point where they mention multiple interns were set on fire during the testing phase.

[Just Plain Ruff]

HellsBells, didn't you know that "Interns" is the new "Canary"

[ERTboog]

cardiac monitor works just as well and im thinking would be very effective....... just sayin

[Caduceus]

Maybe my opinions aren't valid, but don't EMTs and paramedics deserve the right to protect themselves? I personally think this should be a thing. (Not like the article describes exactly, but EMS needs SOMETHING). As I understand it, paramedics can find themselves in some pretty dangerous situations.

What I don't understand is why many are opposed to the idea of arming EMS. I don't mean with guns, I mean with any self-defense tools. And there are a wide range that EMTs and medics could carry without making patients uneasy. Hell, the patients might not even realize that they have something. (For example, pepper spray or a taser as in the above article.) I am not arguing with these individuals' opinions I am just wondering why not?

Yeah, there are the issues of extra costs to EMS services for the tools and the proper training, plus the risk of some trigger-happy newb misusing them. Plus if people knew that EMS carried, I guess that would definitely make it harder for patients to trust their medics and to tell them the truth about what is up with them.

Even if it was just in urban departments, what do you guys think about arming EMS with guns, pepper spray, tasers, etc?

Edited March 5, 2014 by Caduceus