I work in social services and currently am required to perform home visits to areas that are extremely remote (no cell coverage) and some of my clients have extreme mental illness (often unmediated) and extensive criminal history.
With no way to call for help and visiting clients alone, I fear for my safety. I asked my organization if I could visit clients with a co worker and they shot that down. I asked for safety training and the advice was to “park my car facing the road” so I could make a quick escape.
I am considering bringing a gun (legal) with me from now on as help would not be coming for me. Also, my organization doesn’t have a system to background check a client so I often don’t find out about the criminal history until later…after I need to call a wellness check etc.
I was also advised that if a client is in medical distress, I am not to call 911 but make a report to APS and “if your client dies over the weekend, you checked off your professional obligation”. APS can take a week or more to get out to a client. I understand that professionally I would have done my duty but I would be devastated forever if a client dies as a result of me not calling 911.
Ugh! I don’t know if I am cut out for this work.
Edit: literally everyone Carries here. I am one of very few individuals that doesn’t pack a weapon currently.