EMS Clinicians in the West Texas Area Frequently Encounter Firearms During Patient Assessments with Limited Gun Safety Training
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Abstract
Introduction - Firearms are commonly encountered in the prehospital setting, sometimes with devastating consequences. However, the frequency with which EMS workers find and handle firearms when evaluating patients in the field and the firearm safety training they have received remains largely unstudied.
Objectives - We sought to answer the following questions: 1) How frequently do EMS personnel in West Texas and Southern New Mexico USA encounter and handle firearms when caring for patients? 2) How many of these clinicians are aware of agency policy or have received agency training in the safe handling of firearms? 3) Do these clinicians support integrating firearm training into the EMS curriculum?
Methods - In this observational, cross-sectional study, a survey evaluating weapon and firearm encounters, confidence handling firearms, and formal firearms training was distributed to EMS providers in West Texas and Southern New Mexico between July 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023.
Results - Two hundred forty-seven out of a potential 609 EMS clinicians completed the online survey, representing a 41% response rate. Among respondents, 61% reported encountering firearms at least once per year. These firearms were handled by EMS personnel over a quarter of the time. Sixty-eight percent of prehospital providers were unaware of any agency policy regarding handling firearms. Despite broad personal experience with firearms, 90% of respondents received no agency training in gun safety. Eighty-seven percent of providers reported they would attend an agency training course on firearm safety, and 95% indicated that this topic should be added to the EMS curriculum.
Conclusion - EMS personnel in West Texas and Southern New Mexico routinely encounter and handle guns despite minimal agency firearm safety training. This initial study may demonstrate a potential need for introducing firearm safety didactics and training into the EMS curriculum, and the need for additional research.
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