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Logistics: First Aid

Posted 12 years ago on July 29, 2011, 8:51 p.m. EST by jart (1186) from New York, NY

We need to find medics to attend this event who are trained in first aid should anyone get hurt.

13 Comments

13 Comments


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[-] 3 points by Dragonfire1024 (16) from Kittery, ME 12 years ago

Sounds crazy, but maybe contact Doctors Without Borders. Though if this turns into something big like Tahrir, then there may be plenty of people there who can help.

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[-] 1 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

DWB/MSF are already stretched thin with there current projects. They consider folks in third world countries without basic human services a priority over privileged individuals gathering in a city with definitive medical care.

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[-] 1 points by gawdoftruth (3698) from Santa Barbara, CA 12 years ago

The key thing that the pigs do here is injure people and then deny medical aid long enough for minor injuries to have serious consequences. Its important to document all injuries as they happen and to demand medical aid although this will always be ignored, you have to be able to say you tried. call an ambulance for somebody and only after they arrive reveal the person to be in police custody. Call the police on the police, where appropriate, its different officers that answer calls, if you have a clear case of somebody whos going to have serious medical problems due to being beaten, call the cops and an ambulance company or two.

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[-] 1 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

Contact NYC, Boston, Pittsburgh Street Medic Collectives. I am an EMT, I plan on being there, but there should be well organized medical aid for any and all injuries that are caused or exacerbated by the occupation.

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[-] 1 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

I agree. A mass mobilization such as this requires a medic infrastructure to not only respond to issues that can possibly be encountered with police (bumps and bruises to chem weapons). But you'll also have health and safety issues for this many folks living in such a small space. Consider sanitation issues and the possible spread of gastro intestinal issues. An occupation of this sort is nothing shy of a natural disaster relief camp.

There are plenty of established organizations that have experience in this realm. Have they been reached out? There hasn't been any call outs on the popular medic lists. With less than 16 days to go until the occupation, I highly doubt any solid infrastructure can be created. They take months of planning and coordination.

So, what say you?

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[-] 1 points by doc (3) from Seattle, WA 12 years ago

Bumps and bruises aren't generally the issue, oddly enough.

If we are seriously talking about attempting to take the Street, this is likely to get ugly. Think mace, tear gas, heat exhaustion/dehydration and blood sugar plunges from being kettled for hours upon hours.

Everyone attending should read up on these things, and be prepared to administer first aid to themselves and to others.

Radical self-reliance, friends.

Here's a handy guide for Protestor's First Aid (including a checklist of what to bring):

http://www.redstarsociety.com/index.php/creating-a-protesters-first-aid-kit

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[-] 1 points by cia_kid (5) from Ilford, England 12 years ago

A database of firstnames and cell phone numbers of people who have these skills can be gathered prior to and on the day.

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[-] 1 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

And when do you plan to turn these over to the police?

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[-] 1 points by SDSDallas (5) from Dallas, TX 12 years ago

Injuries should be nominal unless the police starting shooting real bullets...even someone with basic first aid can be of service. There should be a set medical tent during the occupation if possible? Ideas?

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[-] 0 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

I'm guessing from the nature of your message you haven't participated in a street action or attended a street medic training. Medical care in a street action is comparable to working in a wilderness setting, with definitive medical care over an hour away. Especially when there is a police blockade in place.

Watch the Miami FTAA 2003 videos. They didn't shoot any real bullets, and there were definitely more serious injuries than what basic first aid training covered.

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[-] 1 points by Jack_Starr (11) from Kerhonkson, NY 12 years ago

At the very least, we should put out a bulletin that everyone who has a basic first aid kit, bring it. I also have basic Red Cross 1st aid certification, and we should see if others have similar certifications. Enough people with small 1st aid kits will at least be able to tend to the first cuts and bruises, then more serious injuries can be tended to (hopefully) by professional volunteers.

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[-] 0 points by anonymous () 12 years ago

Hello- are there any street medics attending this thing? This sounds like an absolute shit show at this point. We should be talking

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[-] 1 points by jart (1186) from New York, NY 12 years ago

There will absolutely be medics.

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