The Evolving Landscape Of Ems Safety

FULTON – February 29, 2024, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals are charged with providing the highest level of care to patients from the location of the 911 call until arrival at the hospital. From its inception, EMS has clung to the words of the great Hippocrates to “Do No Harm” and to treat each patient as a human being with the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism, no matter the patient’s race, creed, religion, gender or gender expression, marital or social status, or other protected class. 

However, in recent times, the dignity and respect that EMS providers afford to patients and their families is not found to have reciprocal standing. On a local, regional, and national level, violence and abuse against EMS professionals has risen to a new high, and industry and local leaders are seeking to address this concerning trend. As recently as Wednesday February 28th, EMS professionals from American Medical Response of Central New York in Syracuse, NY were violently attacked by a patient as reported by local and regional news media. From verbal to physical violence, EMS professionals come to work each day expecting to endure some form of verbal or physical violence, and are seeking ways to be more prepared than ever before so everyone can go home safely. 

From the earliest days of EMS, reports can be found of EMS professionals “rushing into the scene” to help save the life of a citizen in heroics comparable to our law enforcement and firefighting partners. However, in recent times, with the increase of violence against EMS professionals, law enforcement is often on the scene of a medical call with EMS professionals, and oftentimes must first ensure the medical scene is cleared of any potential violent threats prior to the EMS professionals entering the scene and rendering life-saving medical care. 

The cause of this violence against EMS professionals has many possible causes, some of which point to a decay in moral principles, a loss of respect for authority figures which may be due in part to a decline in the family unit, the proliferation of street drugs and alcohol abuse, and untreated mental illness from lack of community services, and overcrowding in outpatient and inpatient mental health service agencies. 

Emergency Medical Services professionals demand an end to the violence perpetuated against them on a daily basis. We call on the public to join us in this clarion call to ensure EMS professionals can work in a safe environment and will work with industry and agency leaders to find a solution for the betterment of everyone involved. Until that time, our brave men and women who serve as EMS professionals will continue to serve the patients who call upon us, no matter the risk because we believe that each person has the right to the highest forms of prehospital medical care.

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Menter Ambulance is a privately owned ambulance service located in Oswego County. The service has been in existence since 1952 and currently has bases of operations in Fulton, Oswego, and Central Square, and provides service to many surrounding municipalities. The service provides Advanced Life Support emergency ambulance transport, and non-emergent transportation. The mission of Menter Ambulance is to provide high quality, effective prehospital care to the residents of Oswego County. 

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