Buzz
Why don't paramedics rush to emergency calls?
Ross Cohen:
I’m happy you asked, because I assure you it’s not from a lack of care. It makes perfect sense when you understand it from our perspective...
3 KEY REASONS
- Running poses risks. If we trip, fall, or get injured, we create an additional patient for ourselves.
- Running to a patient limits our ability to identify hazards on the route. We’re entering an unknown situation and need to remain vigilant for potential dangers. On our way in, we might spot downed power lines, a room filled with unconscious individuals from a gas leak, an aggressive dog guarding its injured owner, debris scattered by a hoarder, or even an assailant who harmed the victim—these are all things we need to notice.
- Running makes it difficult to stay composed and perform at our best. We must be the calmest person present, guiding others with our example. Clear thinking and decisive actions are essential. When we’re out of breath, our hearts racing, and visibly tense, it becomes harder to function professionally. Controlling our emotions in intense situations requires mental discipline, and adding the stress of physical exertion doesn’t help.
5 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
- If the patient sees us running, they might become more anxious. Our behavior can either soothe or escalate the situation.
- We’re carrying heavy gear: stretchers, chairs, bulky bags, costly EKG monitors, and more. Some of these items are challenging to carry even at a slow pace, let alone run with.
- Running doesn’t save much time. If we’ve parked far away, which is uncommon, running adds to our fatigue and risk of injury. If we’ve parked nearby, we might save only a few seconds, which doesn’t make a difference in nearly every case.
- Consistent running on every call, up and down streets, stairs, and hallways, increases the likelihood of injury. Many EMTs experience injuries even without running, and adding that extra exertion only increases the risk.
- We work in all sorts of environments: highways, high-rises, yards, forests, cramped rooms, steep inclines, and harsh weather conditions. Running only complicates things further in these diverse settings.
These are just a few of the reasons we avoid running. The real reason, however, is that running would address the assumption of urgency/concern, which arises when we walk briskly. Trust us, avoiding running benefits everyone involved, both for us and the people we’re helping.
