Less Lethal Weapon Injuries

De-escalation Techniques

  • Only one EMT should speak with the potentially violent patient throughout the incident
  • Keep your temper and maintain a calm tone of voice
    • Watch your body language and breathing
  • Understand the stages of violence and what triggers fighting
    • Maintain a safe distance between you and the patient
  • Understand that sometimes people use fighting to make themselves feel better
    • Refrain from contact until safe to do so with patient permission
  • Understand that the other person is also a human being
  • Talk to the better side of the patient instead of matching insults [29]