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Despite the criminal nature of domestic violence and unlike abuse inflicted upon children, battered women are independent and fully capable of making decisions that best meet their needs. The goal for intervention is to empower women with information, resources, and support. The decision to call police or pursue legal action is a decision that rests with the battered woman alone. You may not be able to stop the violence within a relationship, but you can offer help. By heightening your own awareness and offering support services that may be available to the victim, you can acknowledge that she is not alone, that she does not deserve the violence, and that there are resources to help her when she decides to leave the batterer.
Do not judge the success of your intervention by the patient’s action. It may be frustrating to you when a patient stays in an abusive situation but that is her decision. Be assured: if you have acknowledged and validated her situation and offered her the appropriate referrals, you have done what you can to help.
RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCENE
Calls to domestic violence are considered among the most potentially dangerous of scenes. Law enforcement agencies dispatch multiple officers to answer domestic disturbances as a strategy to reduce the potential of danger. Law enforcement’s approach to domestic disturbances require heightened awareness to all possible clues, ranging from the initial assessment of bumper stickers on vehicles (for example, “This vehicle protected by Smith and Wesson”) to tricycles in the driveway (presence of children) to recommendations to avoid bedrooms (most typical room for accessible firearm) and kitchen (room where most anything can be used as a weapon).
Similar warnings are relevant for EMS personnel. For example, the initial call may just not sound right -- whether an “unknown” or 911 hang-up -- or the calling party denies calling EMS when you arrive at the door. These are clues and should be used as signals to heighten your awareness in responding to the scene. As you approach, look around the yard. Notice, which lights are on in the house. Wait and listen as you approach: do you hear yelling or sounds of a struggle?
If law enforcement has not been called, call them now. DO NOT ENTER UNTIL POLICE ARRIVE AND SECURE THE SCENE. The personal safety of the EMS provider outweighs the need to respond -- this might be the toughest judgment call you’ll ever have to make. Your adrenaline is pumping, you are ready to respond, to stop the bleeding or save a life but remember: If you’re hurt, you are not helping anybody, and you are adding to the burden of others who now need to respond to you as well as to the original patient. For these reasons and more, exercise caution and heightened awareness when responding to a scene of potential domestic violence. Ask yourself the following when responding to potentially high risk calls:
Should I approach?
Are there obvious dangers in approaching?
Who is the subject I will be dealing with? Is there prior history in responding?
Who am I? What are my limitations, my strengths, my own history?
What help is available?
When is the contact taking place (at night, during the day, in a trailer, etc)?
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