Archives for April 2018

When EMTs Become Victims

When someone decides to be a first responder, whether a police officer, firefighter or EMS provider, they feel a duty to protect the citizens of their community. It is more than a job. In some cases they feel it is a calling. Unfortunately it has become a common occurrence to see firefighters and police officers injured or killed in the line of duty. Now we see EMS providers coming under similar attacks as law enforcement officers. More and more organizations are equipping their EMS providers with bulletproof vests and some has gone as far as to arm them for protection.

What has happened to people? The very person that call for help will then turn on those that respond to provide care for them. In some cases they are assaulted and in other cases they are killed. Here are some disturbing statistics in reference to EMTs being turned into victims.

EMT emergency care

EMS workers are 14 times more likely to be assaulted than firefighters
75% of EMTs surveyed report being assaulted at least once in their career
Out of 91 EMTs killed in the line of duty 11% were killed by assault
Compared to the civilians, EMTs are 30 times more likely to be assaulted

Here are a few examples of EMTs being injured or attacked in the line of duty so far this year.

January 26, 2018 – According to the Record-Journal in Meridian, Conn. Justin Hemphill faces several charges for an alleged assault that occurred after he was reportedly hit by a car.

Police said Hemphill was extremely hostile when they arrived. An ambulance transported him to the hospital, where he allegedly spit blood and saliva on an EMS provider and police officer, according to the arrest report.

Hemphill was charged with interfering with police, third-degree criminal mischief, criminal attempt to commit third-degree assault, three counts of assault on public safety personnel and two counts of disorderly conduct.

January 29, 2018 – Fox Illinois reported that the Logan County Paramedic Assistant Ambulance was on the highway when its windshield was hit by what appeared to be a large cinder block or rock.

Logan County Paramedic Assistant Ambulance CEO Steve Siltman said this is the first time they have experienced this type of incident, but he’s aware that it is occurring around the United States.

No one was hurt in the incident, but the ambulance sustained an estimated $6,000 to $10,000 in damage.

February 6, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald reports that Bellingham firefighters responding to a medical aid call found themselves facing a man with a gun, prompting a police standoff Saturday that closed roads in the Barkley neighborhood for about four hours.

“Shortly after they arrived, our crew reported that someone pointed a gun at them,” said Assistant Chief Bill Hewett of the Bellingham Fire Department.

No injuries were reported.

February 13, 2018 – Cincinnati.com reported that the Cincinnati Fire Service ambulance was parked at a curb when Bruce Diamond, a homeless man, allegedly threw a rock at the window.

The department was forced to take the ambulance out of service for repairs, according to police.

Court documents said Diamond was arrested and charged with vandalism. The incident is currently under investigation.

February 20, 2018 – Click Orlando reported that an EMS crew responded to a stroke call and were transporting David Parsons to the hospital when the paramedic who was driving saw in the rear-view mirror that Parsons had gotten off the stretcher and was assaulting the paramedic in the back.

The driver pulled over and found that Parsons had placed the paramedic in a chokehold, according to officials.

Police said the driver then placed Parsons in a chokehold to subdue him, but Parsons ran into oncoming traffic and stopped a vehicle.

Parsons then began wrestling on the ground with a paramedic who stepped in between him and the vehicle, according to police.

Deputy Micah Stoltz said he found Parsons straddling one of the paramedics when he arrived.

March 8, 2018 – The Baltimore Sun reported a Baltimore ambulance was struck by gunfire in Northwest Baltimore on Wednesday morning, prompting a police investigation, police and fire officials confirmed.

“The good thing is that none of our medics were injured, and we’re very appreciative of that,” Fire Department spokeswoman Blair Skinner said.

As a medic I too have been placed in bad situations. Twice I have had a gun pointed at me. Both times the call was dispatched as an illness. Nothing indicated that the scene would deteriorate. In both cases the aggressor ordered us out of the home. We retreated to our unit and called for law enforcement.

The third time I was threatened, we were dispatched to a two year old who had fallen and struck his head on a coffee table. He suffered a laceration above his eye. As we were controlling the bleeding, his father, who had been drinking, came at us with a baseball bat. He swung several times but missed. His wife and I were able to talk him down and he gave up the bat and allowed us to continue caring for his son.

This is just a few examples of how EMS providers are becoming victims. Our world has changed and the evil of our world will pray on those that appear to be vulnerable. EMTs are soft targets. Most have no means to protect themselves.

No emergency scene is safe. It may appear safe, but it can turn violent in matter of seconds, placing the responder in jeopardy. EMS organizations must look at how to protect their EMTs in this not so friendly environment.

But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

When Things Get Bad Take Cover

By Tim Holman Leave a Comment

Imagine for a minute that you are shopping in a large department store. Suddenly a man enters the store and begins shooting. People are frantic and running for the nearest exit. Unfortunately many are being shot because they are panicking and have no idea which direction the bullets were coming from. You on the other hand are looking for cover. Cover is something that will not only conceal your location but stop a bullet as well.

A set of double doors made of steel are located nearby. You enter the doors and coach others to follow. Next, you barricade the doors to provide additional protection. cover vs concealment

Cover vs concealment are the cornerstone of combat tactics. Simply put, cover will conceal you and protect you from bullets. Cover is bullet proof. Concealment will hide you but will not provide protection from gun fire.

If you are in a self defense or tactical situation always consider that the aggressor may have access to cover or concealment making it difficult to engage the subject. But, if both you and the aggressor have equal cover it may create a stand off and allow time for help to arrive.

The following are examples of cover and concealment. Determine which items will provide cover.

Concrete Wall or Large sofa
Plastic table top or Granite
Hard Thick Wood or Drywall
Thick Steel or plywood
Trash Can or Brick Wall
Large Concrete Planter or Thin Metal Cabinet

Your car can provide excellent cover but you must use the front of the car near the front wheel and engine compartment. This area provides maximum protection because the engine and wheels both can stop bullets.

Remember that the type of weapon used will determine what type of cover is needed to stop a bullet. A bullet from a handgun is easier to stop than a bullet from a high powered rifle.

As you go about your day look for areas and items that will provide ultimate protection. When bullets begin to fly you will have very little time to find cover.

Photo: folding Kevlar shield designed by BYU mechanical engineers

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

1Samuel 13

The Founding Fathers Knew What They Were Doing!

By Tim Holman Leave a Comment

The controversy over gun control continues, which made me reflect on what our founding father had to say. It is obvious that they were concerned that the future would consist of those who would want to rewrite the constitution, or a least eliminate the items that they disagree with. Read the following quotes by our founding father and see how strong they felt about the 2nd amendment.

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”

Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776

“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”

Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787

“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”

Thomas Jefferson, Commonplace Book (quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

“And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; or to raise standing armies, unless necessary for the defense of the United States, or of some one or more of them; or to prevent the people from petitioning, in a peaceable and orderly manner, the federal legislature, for a redress of grievances; or to subject the people to unreasonable searches and seizures of their persons, papers or possessions.”

George Washington, Debates of the Massachusetts Convention of February 6, 1788

“That no man should scruple, or hesitate a moment, to use arms in defense of so valuable a blessing, on which all the good and evil of life depends, is clearly my opinion.”

George Washington, letter to George Mason April 5th 1769

“To disarm the people…is the most effectual way to enslave them.”

George Mason

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”

James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434, June 8, 1789

“The constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Alexander Hamilton

“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”

George Washington First President of the United States

“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?”

Patrick Henry American Patriot

“The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution.”

Thomas Jefferson Third President of the United States

Here are some quotes from modern day patriots:

“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”

Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, Art of the Rifle

“Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution by claiming it’s not an individual right or that it’s too much of a public safety hazard, don’t see the danger in the big picture. They’re courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the Constitution they don’t like.”

Alan M. Dershowitz

“Most gun control arguments miss the point. If all control boils fundamentally to force, how can one resist aggression without equal force? How can a truly “free” state exist if the individual citizen is enslaved to the forceful will of individual or organized aggressors? It cannot.”

Tiffany Madison

Can You Survive A Disaster?

By Tim Holman Leave a Comment

It has been raining for days and the river is rising. Electric power is out and most stores are closed due to being flooded. You have been advised by authorities that you have less than two hours to evacuate your neighborhood before it is flooded. You need to leave and leave fast. You don’t have time to make a list of what you will need. So you leave with the clothes on your back. All of the evacuation centers are closed due to over crowding. So you head out of town. It seems like everything is closed. Gas stations, supper markets, discounts stores, everything is closed. How are you going to survive? Disaster safety

Here are some key points to remember. First, never let you gas tank go below half a tank. This will allow to get far enough away that you may find a gas station that is open. Next, develop a “bug out” bag. This is a bag of essentials that can help you survive the first 72 hours of a disaster. Remember your EDC bag has many items that you need. The bug out bag will just provide supplies to survive up to three days. Some of the items to consider are:

Water purification devices that can filter 99.999% of bacteria and parasites from water. This is much easier than trying carry three days worth of water. These devices can purify over 200 gallons of water.

Survival food, protein bars, cans of tuna and other food items with long shelve life can prove to be very helpful. Don’t forget a can opener. Remember we’re not looking for a 4 course meal, it’s survival.

Extra clothing to change into in case you are wet. Light weight items like nylon water resistant pants, sweatshirts, under ware and socks. Packable jackets are ideal for a bug out bag. Rain ponchos and hats should also be included.

Heat Source may be needed for cooking and or warmth. Matches in a waterproof container can be stored for long periods of time. Some type of tender such as paper or small pieces of wood can help make starting fire both quick and easy. Store your tender in a waterproof bag.

A First Aid kit should include items to control bleeding, bandages, tourniquet, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, trauma dressings, elastic bandages, small bottle of sterile water gives you a good start. N95 masks may be a good choice as well.

Soap, hand wipes, toilet paper, tissues, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, hand sanitizer provide some protection against a bacteria filled environment.

Gadgets such as multi tool, hatchet and knife provide you with the key items needed to help you survive.

Weapons unfortunately will most likely be needed in a survival situation. Evil people will pray on the weak. You will need protection. A handgun with extra ammo and magazines will provide the first level of protection. The next level of protection would be a tactical shot gun with at least 50 extra shells.

Light sources are a must and can be accomplished with flashlights, glow sticks, candles and tactical flashlights. Remember to add extra batteries. Most batteries today have a very long shelf life.

Money will be very important. Credit card systems will most likely be down in large scale disasters. $300 to $500 should be sufficient for your first 72 hours. In addition you may want to consider two rolled of quarters. You may come across old mechanical vending machines.

Miscellaneous items may include Fisher Space pen, small binoculars, writing pads, large plastic trash bags, paracord, sunglasses, compass and duct tape. Remember weight is a concern. Pack what you absolutely think you will need.

You may want to consider keeping a small version of a bug out bag in you car. It would include medical equipment and supplies as well as items needed if you were stranded in a snow storm or in a isolated area. Usually this bag has enough supplies for one or to days.

This article is not meant to make you paranoid it is only intended to help you be prepared if the unthinkable should occur. Stay safe and well.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and by wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 6:6-8

Creating an Everyday Carry Bag (EDC)

By Tim Holman Leave a Comment

An Everyday Carry (EDC) refers to the items carried on a daily basis to aid in dealing with normal everyday needs in modern society, including any possible emergency situation. It is most commonly a sling bag large enough to carry key items that you identify as being significant to your daily operations. Many of the items people identify as EDC can be carried in your clothing. If the list of items you want to carry exceeds that which you can carry on your person, you may want to purchase a sling bag or small day pack.

Before buying a EDC bag, you should decide what items you want to carry. This will assure the purchase of the correct size bag. There are many good bags on

Items for your everyday carry bag

the market that come in different sizes and shapes. Maxpedition, Condor, 5:11, 3V Gear, Blackhawk and Goruck are just a few brands that are available for your specific need.

What should I carry?

Here is a list of suggestions that you can analyze for your specific needs:

Small First Aid Items – Always helpful on a day to day basis.

Face Shield- Protects you in the event you you need to perform rescue breathing.

Tourniquet – Stops severe bleeding in an extremity.

Charging cables for phone, tablet or computer – Keeping you in touch.

Backup Battery Pack – If power is out you have backup power.

Water Proof Note Pad – Take or leave notes.

Pens and pencils – You can always use an extra.

Tactical Flashlight (at least 180 lumens) – Can be used if power is out, to signal rescuers or it can be used as a weapon to blind an attacker for at least 30 seconds.

Everyday Carry Bag

Folding Knife – Obviously for cutting or as a weapon.

Multi Tool – For quick repairs and other uses.

Tactical Pen – can also be used as a weapon.

Light Stick – Provides light and can be used as signaling device.

Fisher Space Pen – Will right at any angle in most any temperatures.

Paracord Bracelet with Compass – Many, many uses, use your imagination. Securing items, splints, sling tourniquet, handcuffs, shoelaces, belt the list goes on and on.

Cash and roll of quarters – With power outages and disasters, credit cards may not be an option.

iPad or Tablet – The EDC bags protects these items.

Tylenol or Ibuprofen – Never know when you may need a little pain relief.

Antibiotic Cream – For small cuts and abrasions.

Tactical Gloves – Protection for your hand when changing tire or in all types of emergency situations.

Latex Gloves – Protection when delivering emergency care.

Protein Bars – Food in emergency situation or a pick me up in the middle of the day.

Self Defense Item – Your gun or pepper spray.

Extra Ammo – Just in case you are in a very bad situation.

Lip Balm – It’s there if you need it.

Water Bottle – To keep hydrated.

Space Blanket – Stay warm if you are stranded.

Folded Rain Gear – Stay dry.

Sunglasses – Protection for your eyes when needed.

The EDC will help you solve specific problems throughout the day. In an emergency it may aid you in getting back home. You never know what might happen and it may take a number of resources for you to get home safely. A properly stocked EDC will make you feel more comfortable throughout the day because you have many resources at your fingertips.

Once you have a quality EDC you may want to set up an emergency kit for your car and a bug out bag used when you must leave you home in an emergency situation. These resources will be discussed in future articles.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8