The Happy Medic poses an interesting question over on his blog today. What do you do when, off duty, you come across someone in uniform drinking in a bar?
It's an interesting question and a bad situation. Here's my response:
That is an interesting question that does not appear to have an answer that is a really good answer. Certainly I would strike up a conversation and try to determine if they were on duty. Drinking on duty is just wrong no matter what the situation. If he was on duty I'd have to tell him that it was wrong and that he shouldn't be here. Contacting his supervisor would probably be in order if I could determine who that was.
Beyond that I guess it depends on how talkative the guy is. I'd try to get some idea of why he was there. Did he have a bad shift and needed to decompress? Could I help even just by listening? I've had those days. I'd certainly consider, as politely as possible, suggesting that he consider taking off the uniform shirt and stethoscope so as not to attract as much attention. I usually have a spare shirt in my car to wear after work if I'm going somewhere besides home, perhaps I'd offer it to him.
If he told me to bugger off I would just go back to my seat, not much else I could do at that point. I would have made a good faith effort to try and help.
I guess my point is that just like Police and Fire we in EMS need to stop eating our young and try to take care of each other a little better.
What would you do?
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