An EMS Primer On Being Filmed By Bystanders

If you are ever in public, performing your duties as an EMT, or cop, or firefighter, and you realize someone is filming you, here’s what you do:

Listen carefully, now. This is important. The instructions I’m going to give you must be followed to the letter. Do not deviate from them, and I guarantee you will handle the situation as best as can reasonably be expected:

Do. Your. Job.

Shut up, do your job, and ignore the guy filming you. Try to turn your best side toward the camera, and make the story nothing more interesting than some anonymous EMT rendering professional care.

Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – go confront the photographer. You will only wind up looking like a belligerent idiot, for several reasons:

1. The man uploading the video to YouTube has the power to edit, not you. You are guaranteed to look like the bad guy. Don’t become the story.
2. It is not a HIPAA violation. I repeat: It. Is. Not. A. HIPAA violation.
3. There is no expectation of privacy in a public setting. Photography and videography are perfectly legal in a public setting. A family member can video you in their own home, and Joe Blow can video you from a public street, and there’s not a damned thing you can do about it.

Except perhaps look like an idiot, like this guy: