This presentation will introduce the participants to a curriculum designed to identify strategies to assist Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in the recognition, evaluation, support, treatment, referral and documentation in the response to domestic violence calls. By recognizing and utilizing an already established force in every community, the fire and its emergency medical services, we will be able to examine the increased and empowered role of the EMT in responding to domestic violence calls. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls are over 75% of all fire agency dispatched calls. This repetition of calls provides a large EMS faction that can effectively provide a wide range of assistance to victims of domestic violence, including the elderly and vulnerable adult. This presentation will include the discussion on the diversity of abuse, as well as the working partnerships with the police, hospital emergency departments and the need for clear, concise documentation for medical treatment and possible legal actions. The power of this interaction has the possibility of impacting the victims, the medical community, social services, domestic violence organizations and the role of public health in treatment of families in and out of crisis. It is this concerted effort that the role of our public health organizations will be able to rely on and work with, in decreasing the unmet needs of our customers, the public.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify the role of Emergency Medical Services in responding to domestic abuse calls. This will highlight the expanding role of EMS through the guidelines of the introduced curriculum. This discussion will include the role of EMS with the victims, family members, police, hospital and social services, and public health agencies. 2. Describe the types of abuse using the Power and Control Wheel. The speaker will address the types and forms of abuse, it’s effect on the victims with the use of the Power and Control Wheel. 3. List the red flags the Emergency Medical Technician may see in patient assessment of domestic violence calls. The speaker will list and discuss the red flags or warning signs that may alert the EMT to possible injuries due to abuse. It is these signs that may assist the healthcare provider with clues to the cause and extent of injury. 4. Recognize the importance of safe referral and documentation tools for use in future medical care and possible legal actions. The speaker will discuss the importance of safe referral and documentation tools for use in future medical care, as well as stressing the importance of the utilization of the medical form and it's use in possible future legal actions.
Keywords: Domestic Violence,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.