Question

You respond to a residence for a patient who is "not acting right." As you approach the door, the patient, a 35-year-old male, begins shouting profanities at you and your partner while holding a baseball bat. The man is confused and diaphoretic, and is wearing a medical identification bracelet. You should:

1) calm him down so you can assess him.
2) be assertive and talk the patient down.
3) contact medical control for instructions.
4) retreat at once and call law enforcement.

Answer 1

When faced with an aggressive and potentially dangerous patient, the first action is to retreat and call law enforcement to ensure safety before attempting any medical intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you respond to a residence for a patient who is "not acting right" and upon arrival the patient is aggressive, confused, and diaphoretic, while also holding a baseball bat and shouting profanities, the priority is to ensure safety for everyone involved, including yourself, your partner, the patient, and any bystanders. Your primary course of action should be option 4: retreat at once and call law enforcement. Although options 1, 2, and 3 suggest methods for de-escalation and seeking guidance, the presence of a weapon (baseball bat) and aggressive behavior significantly raises the risk of harm. Safety must come first, and law enforcement is trained to handle such situations. Once the scene is safe and the patient is contained by law enforcement, you can proceed with clinical assessment and necessary medical intervention, considering the patient's presentation and the information from their medical identification bracelet.