ED personnel may encounter members of these groups. 3 Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are an iconic element of the criminal landscape in the United States, the country of their origin. The Gang Threat Assessment published by the National Gang Intelligence Center in November 2011 indicates that there are an estimated 1.4 million active street, prison, and outlaw motorcycle gang members in more than 33,000 gangs operating in all 50 American states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 1, 2 The arrival of an injured gang member should cause ED personnel to become more vigilant for violent outbursts. The emergency department (ED) is at particularly high risk for violence against healthcare workers. We present the observations of 1 author who has conducted ethnographic research on outlaw bikers since the 1980s. We used standard search engines to obtain reports from law enforcement agencies and studies in academic journals on OMGs. Knowledge of their symbols, values, and hierarchy can be crucial to maintaining order in the ED when an injured outlaw biker presents to the ED. The objective of this manuscript is to discuss various aspects of the culture of OMGs so that ED personnel may better understand the mentality of the outlaw biker. The extant literature for ED personnel lacks an overview of the culture of OMGs, a culture that promotes the display of unique symbols and that holds certain paraphernalia as integral to an outlaw biker’s identity and pride. When one member of an OMG is injured, other members and associates are likely to arrive in the ED to support the injured member. Members of OMGs may present to the emergency department (ED) as a result of motor vehicle accidents or interpersonal violence. Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are an iconic element of the criminal landscape in the United States, the country of their origin.
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