News of the week: Ketamine, bullying and harassment

Inside EMS

In this episode of the Inside EMS Podcast, our co-hosts, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson, discuss the news of the week as requested by listener emails. The first topic of discussion is the new Colorado law that has gone into effect that will restrict ketamine use by paramedics on agitated people outside a hospital setting. Signed by Gov. Jared Polis this week, the law on the appropriate use of chemical restraints on a person dictates when and how the drug should be used. The discussion then shifts to sexual harassment and workplace bullying. In a settlement with the city of Chicago, five female paramedics will receive $1.825 million. The five women, whose names have not been revealed publicly, filed a 2018 suit alleging the fire department "ignored sexual harassment complaints and failed to conduct meaningful investigations of alleged sex discrimination." Our hosts discuss an article written by Linda Willing that outlines how EMS chiefs have to be the catalyst for stopping harassing behavior in the workplace.