DB 19-04 - Identification and Treatment of Known or Suspected Victims of Domestic Violence

Question 1

Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence (IVP) defined:

Answer 1

An act or acts of physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and/or psychological aggression (including coercive acts) by a current or former intimate partner.

Question 2

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic violence is generally classified into what four areas?

Answer 2

-Sexual violence

-Stalking

-Physical violence

-Psychological Aggression (includes expressive aggression [name calling, insulting, or humiliating an intimate partner]and coercive control)

Question 3

Domestic Violences generally follows a cycle of 3 phases:

Answer 3

1st Phase: Tension or Build-Up

2nd Phase: Battering Phase (EMS/law enforcement involvement)

3rd Phase: Calm or Honeymoon (batterer promises it will never happen again

(Without intervention the cycle of violence repeats itself)

Question 4

Some common red flags of domestic violence include:

Answer 4

• Patient is fearful of household members or exhibits increased anxiety when member is near.

• Patient is reluctant to respond when questioned or hesitates in providing information about how the injury occurred.

• Patient and other household members give conflicting accounts of incident.

• Patient offers history that is inconsistent with the injury or illness.

• Patient complains of trauma without anatomic “evidence of injury.”

• Patient exhibits old injuries or injuries in various stages of healing, particularly to the back, neck, and ribs.

• Household member is angry or indifferent towards patient and refuses to provide necessary assistance.

• Household member refuses or hesitates to permit patient’s transport to hospital.

• Household members seek to prevent the patient from interacting privately or speaking openly.

• There are unexplained delays in seeking treatment for injury.

• Police or Fire/EMS have responded to the scene previously or repeatedly.

Question 5

First responders may not be able to stop the violence within a relationship, but they can provide:

Answer 5

-patient care
-offer support
-provide information on where the victim can seek help.

Question 6

It is important to understand that early _______ of domestic violence can be the first step in interrupting the progression of violence and protecting the victim.

Answer 6

identification

Question 7

Follow mandated child abuse reporting requirements if:

Answer 7

-child heard or witnessed the DV, or was present for the aftermath.

Question 8

When treating a known or suspected domestic violence victim, members shall check the “Suspected Domestic Violence (DV)” box on the ePCR. This checkbox is located under “Mechanism of Injury, Other MOI.”

Checking this box will provide:

Answer 8

-the 24-hour National Domestic Violence hotline number

(This number should be provided to the victim)