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Negotiating Skills Not Required For Paramedics, But Certainly Useful!
By JJohnson | April 5, 2009
On 4/5/09 at around 9:30am, the LBFD was called out to the Westin hotel located in downtown Long Beach at 333 E. Ocean, for reports of a possible suicide attempt from the roof of the hotel. Engine 1 along with Rescue 2 reported that there was a distraught male up on the 16th floor, actually standing on the top of the Westin sign on the exterior of the building.
It was unknown why the male went out or how he got outside of the hotel, but both units went to the roof and began to talk with the man to get him down. One of the LBFD’s Firefighter/Paramedics who was on Rescue 2 began to build a rapport with the man and after about 15 minutes was able to persuade the patient to sit down on the ledge of the roof. Once the man sat down the FF/PM saw an opportunity and grabbed the patient and wrestled him to the ground. This is significant considering that the man weighed in excess of 250 pounds and was intoxicated.
The LBPD handcuffed the patient and he was transported to Saint Mary’s hospital for evaluation.
Topics: Incidents, News | 34 Comments »