Street medics denied access to Tacoma protest

Protesters were not allowed to bring backpacks into the barricaded area at the Port of Tacoma. Police refused to even check contents, so protesters had to either leave backpacks behind or lose out on the chance to express their right of protest over a war they did not accept. In this case they did not even allow street medics into the area which probably resulted in injuries not treated on a timely basis.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tacoma
• port
• protest
• medics
• stryker
• brigade
• riot
• police

[miansiada]

Okay, I am the medic in this video. To begin with I know CPR, first aid have been trained to treat common injuries at protests as well as chemical weapons. Secondly, these protests lasted almost two weeks, and I was present almost every night.

[143tbone]

Thank you, miansiada, for the work you did looking after the protesters.

[Jsimp0487]

They don't use the word "Medic" as an occupation ie: EMS, EMTS. They use it to indicate their role in the protest. They are legally protected to act in this manner by the "Good Sameritan Law". Granted this law may very in differant ereas, requiring the person to pass a basic 1st Aid Course. But for the most part, no Course completion is required. And I'm sure that the protestors know the dangers they face and are willing to have someone give them immediate aid. I'd be a medic, given the chance.

[silverd20]

@bodine465 A good street medic knows when something is outside their realm of expertise and calls the EMS. Most of the work the lesser trained people do is handing out water bottles, sunscreen, and other preventative measures. As for the teargas comment, the only thing trained proffessionals give you is a snoopy bandaid and a bottle of povedine iodine to go with your tea.

[silverd20]

poor guys, those police officers seem to be between a rock and a hard place, enforce a rule which was not made with street medics in mind and deny medical support for the people inside, or ignore their orders and lose their jobs. I feel just as sorry for the police as I do for the medics.

[steveo20007]

They're lying...

[Aroundthewaycom]

wow

[Extricator]

Unless you hold certification as an Emergency Medical technician,your not a "medic".

A doofus with a water bottle,is just a doofus with a water bottle.

There is no such thing as a "street medic".

[marysez]

i want to say thank u to all who stand for peace.

the police have gotten Way out of hand.

[marysez]

i have a very good friend who is an educated EMT.

sometimes she mis-spells too.

i say it is a crime to Stop people from helping.

they say they have their own medics yet i failed to c them come to the aide of the youtuber.

why r u against 'we the people'?

[psemond72]

Uh...wrong again....every Tacoma firefighter is trained in usage and execution of Hazmat decon. The Tacoma Fire Department has a trailer full of very expensive decon equipment and we know how to use it...Your "street medic" equipment is a joke. Flushing tear gas or pepper spray with normal saline is hardly "chemical weapons decontamination."

[loulabelle88]

This is why street medics practice a strict DO NO HARM policy and refer patients that we feel are out of our realm of experience to higher care.