Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the launch of a new training scenario for EMS workers, the fourth in a series of videos aimed at helping health-care professionals and first responders identify and respond to human trafficking situations.
“Human trafficking is a crime that hides in plain sight, and training is key to helping first responders recognize the signs,” AG Yost stated. “As a victim’s first medical contact, emergency medical workers’ ability to identify and report trafficking could be the difference between a victim’s continued suffering and their path to freedom.”
The video series is based on real-life scenarios created by the Healthcare Subcommittee of Yost’s Human Trafficking Commission. The latest video features a local fire department EMS unit responding to a call about a female experiencing an asthma attack. Upon arrival, first responders notice physical and verbal cues suggesting that the patient may be trafficked.
The scenario examines several aspects for first responders:
- Physical indicators of human trafficking at the scene.
- Health-related indicators that may suggest trafficking.
- Care-related considerations when dealing with potential victims.
- The importance of communicating all indicators with hospital staff upon patient arrival by EMS transport.
Accompanying the video is a Facilitator’s Discussion Guide designed to assist training groups in educating and discussing the scenario.
Additionally, Yost introduced a new “best practices” guide aimed at raising public awareness of human trafficking among adolescents and teenagers. Titled “Human Trafficking 101: Best Practices Guide to Educating Youth of Middle- & High-School Age,” this publication was developed by the Public Awareness Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission. It serves as a resource for anti-trafficking coalitions and community leaders across Ohio.
“Knowledge is the first line of defense and a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of exploitation,” Yost remarked regarding the guide. “Every opportunity we have to educate young people about human trafficking is a step toward ending this crime.”
Available through the AG’s website, the youth guide covers essentials such as myth vs. fact, credible resources, checklists for trainings, risk factors for youth including entry points for human trafficking, grooming processes, dangers of social media and online gaming, tips for building resilience, and understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Attorney General Yost established the Human Trafficking Initiative in 2019 to raise awareness, empower Ohioans to act within their communities, enhance victim services statewide, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice. He will deliver opening remarks at the initiative’s fifth annual Human Trafficking Summit on August 7 in Columbus.
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