As the pace began to slow and the health care professionals finally were able to take a deep breath, the emotions came in waves. It wasn’t until 6 p.m. when Dr. Arbelaez was dictating the charts for the 20 victims they received, that the gravity of what he had witnessed began to sink in. “I was like, my God, look at all these bullet wounds and lacerations and mangled arms and mangled hands,” he recalled. He kept flashing back to that moment in the hallway when they turned around to see the first child being rushed through the lobby by EMS, but she was already gone.

At the end of their shift, the medical team gathered outside the ambulance bay to talk about what they had just been through together. They spent 10 minutes talking through the scene, the preparation, and their response. Team members shared how they were feeling and expressed gratitude for every member of the team. They hugged and cried and had a moment of silence for the victims. Taking a moment to pause and reflect “was helpful for everyone,” Dr. Arbelaez said. 

The Aftermath

In the days that followed, Dr. Arbelaez worked his string of day shifts as planned. He felt staying busy was his best option. “Very few people outside of work understand what we go through,” he explained. He said it was therapeutic to be around his colleagues who were there that day. While they lean on one another as needed, Dr. Arbelaez and his coworkers are also receiving counseling to help them process and cope. 

Board Blog Outlines ACEP’s Stance on Firearm Injury Prevention

After the string of recent shootings, ACEP received questions from members about the College’s stance on firearm violence and injury prevention, and political support of candidates related to this issue. As part of ACEP’s ongoing commitment to transparency, we want to reaffirm the College’s position around firearm safety, and injury prevention.

In a recent Board blog, President-elect Chris Kang, MD, FACEP, covers the following frequently asked questions:

• What’s covered in ACEP’s Policy Statement on Firearm Safety and Injury Prevention?
• Firearm violence: Is this ACEP’s lane?
• What about the politics surrounding firearm-injury prevention?
• Does ACEP give to candidates who are supported by the NRA or have voted down firearm safety legislation?
• What kind of firearm-safety and injury-prevention legislation does ACEP support?

ACEP represents nearly 40,000 emergency physicians whose views span the political spectrum. ACEP’s positions have long supported legislation, regulations, research, and policies that promote public health and delivery of better emergency care. As stated in ACEP’s new strategic plan, the College is committed to tackling tough issues and updating you on those actions through open, two-way communication.