Care and Feeding of Emergency Medical Technicians

While paramedics came back from their dispatches exhausted and emotionally overloaded, morale was ,generally good. The following table reports their evaluation of various support services. On the basis of individual comments, it appears that they varied in quality between the larger satellite EOCs and staging areas. Arrangements for rest or sleep received the worst ranking. Fully 85% of the respondents felt it was inadequate (Table 18). They slept on fire engine bays, on the floor or chairs, or in their rescue rigs as did private company ambulance personnel. Food was another problem. A majority, 78 %, found it to be "fair" or "poor." For example, EMTs reported eating twinkies, orange cake, and burgers from Burger King at the Arlington Command Post. Provisions to take care of personal hygiene needs were ranked as "poor" by 36%, and there being "none" available by 22%. Rescue unit staff were pulled from service for an hour and half during their shift for rest, food, and toilet needs. If staff showed evident signs of stress, their physical and emotional state was monitored. Critical stress debriefings were not given during the event in the field which probably accounts for 78% of the EMTs saying they received none. There were a few episodes of paramedics crying as a way of releasing stress. The earliest reported attacks against fire and law enforcement personnel and their equipment began around 6 PM, Wednesday, a few minutes after law enforcement protection had been requested. A firefighter had been hit by a brick at 71st and Normandy. LA City Fire Department EMTs had already been issued body armor. At about 8:15 PM a call was made for additional body armor to protect paramedics obtained by mutual aid. This equipment augmented their turnout gear. Seven out of the eight private ambulance EMSA survey responders said that they wore no protection at all. Clearly EMS field responders were at risk when they responded to an emergency call. Los Angeles City Fire Department reported that besides the four seriously injured personnel, there were 38 minor injuries that did not require transport. The fact that none were killed and fewer injured than during the Watts Riots is an important accomplishment considering that this event was much more violent and widespread. At first LA Fire Department paramedics were asked to report directly to the Arlington command post for assignment. This required them to drive through the disaster area. Later shifts were told to report to a staging area and were conveyed in by armed escorts.

Medical Care for the Injured

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