Ambulance Staff Learning Martial Arts to Handle Trouble Patients

JEMS.com Editor’s Note:Cases of out-of-control patients dying during transport have been in the news, making the management of agitated and combative patients a hot topic in EMS. Click here to read the May 2007 JEMS “Holding Back” by Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP and David Phillips, BS, EMT-P.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Paramedics are seeking martial arts training to better handle out-of-control patients.

While Ambulance Victoria says new safety systems have seen a drop in the number of paramedics injured, the union says that better protection is needed.

Martial arts teacher Terry Lim said yesterday several paramedics had taken classes at his dojos to better deal with confrontation from patients.

Click here to read more.

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