Responders

Two recent stories, very different, but related in results, stirred an old memory. One was about a lady who was hit trying to rescue or aid a dog that had been injured on the street. The second was by a critic claiming that police are taught to "make sure you get home." His thesis was that the "get home safe" mind set predisposed police officers to "shoot first and ask questions later."

This is not to comment on either of the acts or comments. My intent is to dissect emergency and uncontrolled situations and the threats inherent in such events. I have both a background and training in emergency response, both as a first responder and as a participant in hazardous conditions.

One of the primary caveats for any responder is to be of assistance and not become part of the problem. True story: A worker observed that a co-worker had collapsed in his work area. Reflexively, he rushed into the enclosure and was himself overcome by the toxic gases the first worker had encountered.

Granted, immediate response is our initial impulse. But the existence of an "event" should trigger a warning. Something caused that situation and it might be still in residence. We often see this on TV shows where our "hero" rushes to aid a colleague and is overcome by the villain who is lurking in hiding.

Make sure that you do not fall victim to that same threat whatever it is.. The few seconds required to assure the safety of the environment and situation will undoubtedly pay off in the efficacy of the rescue or extraction.

First, a few seconds is less damaging to the injured party than the minutes or even hours that might elapse before a second rescue can be mounted. (Always working in teams is one critical element of ongoing security, but at this point we are past that consideration.)

Let's count the cost. If the first responder succumbs we now have two victims. This requires two rescuers, at least, so now we have four lives in jeopardy. And the two additional responders are not available to aid others in a larger scale emergency, so two more victims are ignored or postponed. That makes six lives. A measured response would have kept the "cost" factor at two: One victim and one responder.

Think before you act. Our humanitarian friend suffered the ultimate "cost" for trying to rescue the injured dog. Calling for assistance would have been a far superior option. And incidentally, the dog died anyway.

The second situation involves an officer placed "in harm's way." If he responds in any way less than decisively, he not only risks his own well being and even life, but he is exposing the surrounding society to the threat he now faces. It is not a question of the officer "getting home," it is a matter of preventing the invasion of the homes that he is charged with protecting.

A "home safe" officer or responder means that something has gone right that day. Our mantra is, "think before you act, then act decisively."