Report Number: 05-0000202
Report Date: 05/27/2005

Event Description

I WAS RIDING IN THE IN-CHARGE PARAMEDIC POSITION ON A MEDIC WITH MY PARAMEDIC PARTNER ON A SUNNY MORNING. WE WERE DISPATCHED TO A CALL INVOLVING A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT. WE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WHERE WE FOUND THE APARTMENT NUMBER WAS AN UPSTAIRS UNIT. WITH MY JUMP BAG AND MONITOR IN HAND WE WALKED DIRECTLY UP TO THE DOOR. STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, I KNOCKED AND FOUND ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY THE DOOR BEING OPENED WITH A GENTLEMAN POINTING A SHOTGUN AT US. HIS WIFE SCREAMED AND WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED AND RAN DOWN THE STAIRS, LUCKILY MAKING IT BACK TO THE UNIT WITHOUT A SHOT BEING FIRED. WE EVACUATED THE AREA AND CALLED IT IN. IT BECAME A POLICE STANDOFF LASTING APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BEFORE THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO COAX HIM INTO SURRENDERING. HIS WIFE TOLD US THAT HE HAD BECOME VERY PARANOID THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO TAKE HER FROM HIM. WE TRANSPORTED HIM TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY.

Lesson Learned

1. NEVER WALK UP TO A DOOR AND STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT!!!!!! 2. ALWAYS THINK THAT EVERY CALL CAN TURN TO AN ISSUE OF RAPID RETREAT.

To view the whole report