Doctors bring medical care to the streets during public protests

By Matt T. Hubbard
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

As he darts through crowds of protestors, Jake Nano, 26, carries a 20-pound medical bag and searches for protesters injured by tear gas and rubber bullets.

Nano is one of the medics for Medics4Justice, a collective of medical personnel that was founded in July in response to the increase of police inflicted injuries during demonstrations.

“At the first sound of a ‘move back,’ or the crack of a pepper-ball gun, is when we drop everything, gear up, and take action,” Nano said.

Nano is certified in First Aid, CPR, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He lives just a few blocks from the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C, a hotspot for demonstration anytime injustice occurs. It’s also a place where street performers, vendors, and public speakers contribute to modern American activism throughout the day.

But when the day runs out and night falls, the vibrant artwork that conceals glass storefronts become protective barricades for businesses and the yellow writing on the street comes to life as a united response to riot police.

When projectiles begin to fly and riot police start to advance, these medics step in, equipped with their backpacks and their certifications.

In preparation for a violent event, Nano carries a helmet to defend against thrown objects, a half-face respirator to protect him from tear gas, shatterproof goggles, baby shampoo with water to diffuse tear gas on skin, drinking water, bandages and ice packs to lower swelling.

“If a medic gets injured, they are decommissioned,” Nano said. “We can’t risk that since our certifications are what allow us to do things that other medics might not be able to.”

Medics face an elevated risk of injury. They must cultivate an awareness of all the possible threats and avoid putting themselves in direct danger.

Street medic Daniel Richardson is also a medic for Medics4Justice. To avoid injury, he uses a megaphone to draw himself and injured protesters away from danger.

“I get to a safe area and call out for the injured to come to me,” Richardson said. “This allows me to clear space for those who are seriously injured, as well as prevent anyone from further injuries.”

Street medics use a risk assessment system that nearly identical to the one first responders use.

Medical first responders use “scene safe.” This concept teaches responders that if a scene is not safe, then they are not to engage until it is. This means that until police control a situation, a person may not receive help.

Scene safe allows first responders like Jawan Yancey, who is the Truck 12 Fire Captain for the Baltimore City Fire Department, to respond to dangerous calls in a protected manner.

During the 2015 Baltimore riots that followed the death of Freddie Gray, Yancey was actively responding to calls.

“We would get the call, wait for the police to secure the scene, and then we go to work,” Yancey said.

Street medics often work off a personal assessment system that fits what they are comfortable with and capable of handling.

“Street medics are necessary because no one is going to call for EMS if they get tear gas in their eyes,” Richardson said. “That is why we are there, because we have the resources and ability to identify serious injuries over small ones.”

Medics must be prepared for a variety of injuries that could occur in a night.

“We are unsure what any night has in store for us,” Nano said. “But we do know that at some point we will have to flush eyes, patch a cut, or god forbid, take someone to the hospital ourselves.”

With elevated tensions of an election year, medics like Nano and Richardson plan to continue working with Medics4Justice.

“Our goal is not to be a complete doctor’s office,” said Nano. “Our goal is to stabilize the injured in a timely manner in order to minimize their chances of needing professional medical assistance.”