Ambulance staff learning martial arts to handle trouble patients

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Ambulance staff learning martial arts to handle trouble patients

MELBOURNE paramedics are seeking martial arts training to better handle out-of-control patients.

While Ambulance Victoria says new safety systems have seen a drop in the number of paramedics injured, the union says that better protection is needed.

Martial arts teacher Terry Lim said yesterday several paramedics had taken classes at his dojos to better deal with confrontation from patients.

“They are wanting techniques for how to protect themselves,” Mr Lim said.

“It’s crazy, isn’t it . . . I mean, you’d think why would anyone punch an ambulance officer?”

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said that anecdotally plenty of drunk, drug-affected or mentally disturbed patients were taking pot-shots at paramedics.

“Obviously, if a number of them are concerned enough to want to seek out martial arts training, that’s worrying for us.”

The union last week met Health Minister Daniel Andrews and Ambulance Victoria to ask for a safety review.

It came after a paramedic was allegedly punched and gripped around the throat by a drunk patient on a call to a home in Pascoe Vale.

“What we want is for better support when there is violence that comes totally out of the blue,” Mr McGhie said.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman James Howe said that in the 12 months to March Ambulance Victoria had eight reported cases of aggression or assault injuries.

He said the figure was down from an average of 60 incidents a year, before new safety measures following a vicious attack on ambulance officers in 2003.

But Mr McGhie said many officers would take being hit in their stride and not report it.

“As violence in the community increases, our members are also seeing more of it, and for some it’s almost become part of the job,” he said.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24386883-661,00.html

Now what martial art would most help these noble first responders?

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This is nothing new. Im a paramedic and violence is a part of the job. In my area aprox 70 per cent of our workload is domestic violence and drug abuse and psychiatirc work, which seems to be the general trend everywhere.
The idea of martial arts and training has been thrown around for the last fifteen years or more within my service, and indeed they have run various courses, in my opinion, the best training is awareness and avoidance, as well as de-escalation training rather than actual physical stuff.
Problem is bigger than ever gets to the media.
One issue is that if paramedics become trained in martial arts and carry defensive equipment, they will be less inclined to make tactical withdrawals and therefore statistically more injuries will occur. Its a very complex issue.

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First reaction? I bet paramedics get a lot of drunken grabbing them, psychotic people pushing them, and drugged up jerks swinging haymakers.

Ummmmm…aikido? :slight_smile:

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Damn, Ive never liked aikido, but they do push their non-striking peaceful side dont they?

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I am a firefighter in a major metro and defending yourself is a common happening. Funny, I was just approached by one of our paramedics regarding a “hands-on” section for paramedic students.

Aaron Fields

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It just struck me reading this, that it is a bit of a false picture if people think that it is only drunk/drugged/psychotic patients that are the danger, the really dangerous incidents can be while trying to rescue/treat the victims of violence, and the attacker is still around, domestics etc. I was once KOed by an a bloke who had been bashing his partner.
Brawls and riots can be pretty dangerous and chaotic too.
Sadly its not only limited to metro areas anymore either. Theres plenty of violence in the rural communities as well and of course there is often little or no police present as their resources are often stretched as well.
It can be depressing, but I try to view it as a learning experience. .

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The violence can come from anywhere, it’s just that there are certain situations where it’s more likely, i.e. the belligerent drunk, or the “off their meds” mental patient. I’ve also had to deal with it in domestic situations where the husband tries to get to his wife after they’ve been seperated to get her away from him. Vehicle accidents with wigged out family members showing up on the scene, etc.

Whatever they’re teaching is most likely focused more on passive control and deflection than going toe to toe. You want to protect yourself and control the patient but you also don’t want to be a headline for kicking the shit out of somebody when your supposedly there to help.