What is a BLM medic and what are their qualifications?

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I saw TYT and they said a BLM medic attempted to offer aid, but she was pushed aside along with her supplies.  Who can call themselves a medic and can such a medic act in all medical emergencies?

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Specializes in NICU.

They are basic EMTs that administer basic first aid, the same as anyone else could. They can not do anything invasive such as start IVs since they are not working through their employer and medical director. 

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Specializes in Peds ED.

They’re volunteers who usually take community based training in treating protest-related injuries like tear gas exposure, preventing heat exhaustion/heat stroke, etc. They often provide community education on after-protest emotional care as well. Many have health are experience of their own. Our local medic collective are largely former or current EMTs and paramedics who want to support the movement.

 

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Specializes in Peds ED.

Here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_medic

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/health/unrest-protests-street-medics.html

If you Google there are a ton of articles about them. The practice dates back to the Civil Rights Movement.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

"BLM medics" are first responders of at least an EMT level or above who work for the BLM (Bureau of Land Management).  'Protest medics' are first responders with levels of qualification varying from BLS to Paramedic.  "Medics" affiliated with the Black Lives Matter organization tend to be people who own a pick-up and a fanny-pack.  I know a number of fire fighter paramedics who volunteer at protests, but who make a point of not affiliating with the BLM organization due to liability.  

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Specializes in Peds ED.

The BLM movement isn’t centralized and it’d be hard for your fire fighter friends to officially affiliate with an organization when multiple groups organize and participate in protests in various locales. Volunteers in these positions are also there to support the cause.

 

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Specializes in Critical Care.
16 minutes ago, HiddencatBSN said:

The BLM movement isn’t centralized and it’d be hard for your fire fighter friends to officially affiliate with an organization when multiple groups organize and participate in protests in various locales. Volunteers in these positions are also there to support the cause.

 

The BlackLivesMatter movement started as a general sentiment in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin and continued on in response to numerous unjustified police killings. 

The name was then co-opted by an organization with views at least a little bit more radical then the more mainstream views that the BlackLivesMatter sentiment originally started with.  Local chapters of the BLM organization are 'decentralized' in that they are autonomous yet they are still affiliated with the BLM 501(c) organization, and at least some of the views of the main organization are ones that paramedics and EMTs are reasonably reluctant to associate with their license or certification.  

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Specializes in Peds ED.
2 minutes ago, MunoRN said:

The BlackLivesMatter movement started as a general sentiment in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin and continued on in response to numerous unjustified police killings. 

The name was then co-opted by an organization with views at least a little bit more radical then the more mainstream views that the BlackLivesMatter sentiment originally started with.  Local chapters of the BLM organization are 'decentralized' in that they are autonomous yet they are still affiliated with the BLM 501(c) organization, and at least some of the views of the main organization are ones that paramedics and EMTs are reasonably reluctant to associate with their license or certification.  

That’s an oversimplification of the movement. And BLM has always included those with a radical analysis of policing in this country- the notion of defunding is not new but is gaining traction as the movement has grown. Umbrella organizations often like to claim voice for movements they don’t necessarily have.

And as I said before, my local street medic collective is made up of a mix of current and former EMTs and paramedics as well as veteran street medics who have been organizing protest first aid since the 90s plus newcomers. The news coverage I’ve read in other cities quotes street medics who are paramedics and EMTs. 

The medics you know aren’t reflective of all medics although I am aware from my experience that it is a more conservative field on the whole.

 

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I know a number of medics and EMTs who volunteer with the local social / political action organization which has been around for decades, none of them however affiliate with the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network.  The BLM Global Network is part of the broader BLM movement, but they aren't the same thing.  Not everyone who supports the BLM movement is equally supportive of the BLM Global Network.

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Specializes in Peds ED.

We don’t even have a local chapter of the BLM Network. I’m doubtful that every medic mentioned in the media as a BLM medic is affiliated in an official capacity rather than being active in a medic collective supporting the BLM protests. 

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