I’m sorry to say that this took place about two hours from where I live.
Jackson, Mississippi city council member Kenneth Stokes is well known around Central Mississippi for opening his mouth about things he knows nothing about. He’s also been accused of lots of dirty dealings so he has no right to call anyone out. Yet, he’s done just that: He’s called out every single person who steps foot on an ambulance. Evidently he thinks we’re all trained as Army corpsmen and feels that we aren’t doing our jobs unless we’re willing to enter unsecured active shooting scenes.
I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware that I was running a M*A*S*H* unit.
To give you the short version of the story: Councilman Stokes is upset at AMR because they did not enter the said active shooting scene prior to police arriving and let the victim lay on the ground and bleed. As I said, this scene was not secured. Jackson PD was not on scene. Did I mention it was an active shooting scene, where shots were still being fired?
This AMR crew did the right thing: They waited until the guys with the guns showed up to secure the scene. I hate to tell the “honorable” councilman but EMTs and medics are no good to anyone if they get hurt or killed. When we’re in EMT school the first thing we’re taught is safety. It goes a little something like this: Me, my partner, my ambulance, the patient, everybody else.
Did you notice that one’s personal safety is the most important? It’s like that for a reason.
Councilman Stokes is now grandstanding, calling for the city to look for a new ambulance service, and saying that EMS workers should be willing to “take risks” because “seconds matter.” Well councilman, you’re right they do matter. However, EMS personnel do plenty of things daily that place their safety at risk. Entering an unsecured and active shooting scene should not be added to list.
And it won’t be added to mine.
This is why politics and EMS do not mix. Mr. Stokes, nor any other politician, has any right to speak against EMS unless they actually have a clue what they’re talking about. Had Mr. Stokes done any research he would know that no EMT or medic is going to get out of their ambulance, or even get near the scene, unless it’s secure. Mr. Stokes would also know that we’re medical practitioners and, as such, we’re not law enforcement. Does he even realize what we do or are just ambulance drivers to him? Does he know that we are not allowed to carry any weapons while on duty?
The bottom line is that councilman Stokes’ comments are disgraceful. Of course, why should I be surprised? He’s been accused of many misdeeds himself so he’s likely just trying to take the heat off of himself.
Maybe instead of questioning AMR on why their crew didn’t enter an unsecured active shooting scene, he should ask why JPD took over 20 minutes to respond.
My EMS brothers and sisters, please stay safe out there. I hope you’re not in a city like Jackson where certain city leaders care nothing about your safety and think that we act like the idiots on shows like Trauma and the like. Look out for yourself and your partner because others may not be willing to do so.
And remember such actions at election time.
Jonathan
