Tag: psychiatric
- Suicide ()
“You can go with us, or you can go with them…” Assisting a patient committing suicide is a crime in Georgia, but actually committing suicide is not. Sometimes, in an effort to resolve the situation, the police might be tempted to give the patient an ultimatum, “Go with them or come with us.” There is […]
- Psychiatric ()
Behavior is the way in which someone conducts oneself or behaves. A psychiatric disorder or mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). A behavioral emergency is defined as a situation in which a patient presents as being at imminent risk of behaving […]
- Getting SPASTIC With Pediatric Altered Mental Status ()
What is altered mental status? Altered mental status (AMS) is a disruption in how your brain works that causes a change in behavior. This change can happen suddenly or over days. AMS ranges from slight confusion to total disorientation and increased sleepiness to coma. What causes AMS? AMS can be caused by physical, psychological, and […]
- Play It Safe With Psychiatric Patients ()
Ensure the scene is safe The problem with psychiatric patients is that some of them could be dangerous. Ensuring enough police support are on scene will discourage a patient from potentially acting violently to the ambulance crew. Speak in a respectful and non threatening manner Remember, the ambulance has arrived to the patient with the […]
- Psychiatric ()
The ambulance crew is there to take care of the patient… and nothing else Psychiatric (regarding mental health) calls are generally made by the public in response to a general disturbance. The police never know what situation awaits them on the other end of the telephone. The police arrive and the patient is not cooperative […]
- Getting SPASTIC With Altered Mental Status ()
What is altered mental status? Altered mental status (AMS) is a disruption in how your brain works that causes a change in behavior. This change can happen suddenly or over days. AMS ranges from slight confusion to total disorientation and increased sleepiness to coma. What causes AMS? AMS can be caused by physical, psychological, and […]
- Restraining Patients ()
Violent patients should never be transported without restraints. Unless the ambulance crew doubles as a hostage negotiator or used car salesman, the patient will either not cooperate or even worse, fail to cooperate at a later time. The worst possible place to have a physical confrontation is in the back of an ambulance. Use of […]
- That Homeless Guy is Somebody’s Son or Father ()
It is very easy to dehumanize the violent, drugged, or mentally ill. It’s not a ‘them against us’ arrangement. EMS is there to help. Don’t get caught up taking sides. Reality is never polarized.