630.45 EMERGENCY MEDICAL CUSTODY TRANSPORTS
Refer:
- DIR 630.40 Medical Service Policy
- DIR 630.50 Emergency Medical Aid
- DIR 850.10 Custody, Civil Holds
- DIR 850.20 Mental Health Crises Response
- DIR 870.20 Custody and Transportation of Subjects
- DIR 1051.00 Taser, Less Lethal Weapon System
- DIR 1010.10 Deadly Physical Force
- DIR 1010.20 Physical Force
- Pre-hospital Medical Treatment Worksheet
- Pre-booking Emergency Response Record
1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
1.1. The purpose of this directive is to establish Bureau guidelines for the transport of subjects who appear to be seriously injured, seriously ill, or unconscious.
2. DIRECTIVE SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS
2.1. No definitions.
3. POLICY
3.1. Members will not transport subjects who appear to be seriously injured, seriously ill, or unconscious unless an on-scene evaluation by EMS determines the subject is cleared for officer transport. This includes, but is not limited to any subject who:
3.1.1. Appears to be suffering from excited delirium. Symptoms may appear as severe as agitation, over stimulated or wired, paranoia, disorientation, extreme restlessness, involuntary twitching of small muscles and hallucinations.
3.1.2. Suffers any seizure prior to (per witness statements or self-proclamation) or during police contact.
3.1.3. Displays respiratory difficulty, including but not limited to shortness of breath, extreme wheezing, etc.
3.1.4. Displays obvious signs of head trauma or loss of consciousness prior to (per witness statements or self-proclamation) or during police contact.
3.1.5. Appears to be extremely intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs in conjunction with any of the above symptoms and has been involved in a prolonged physical altercation.
3.1.6. Appears or admits to being under the influence of cocaine or amphetamine substances and has been involved in prolonged physical altercation or exertion.
4. MEMBER RESPONSIBLITIES
4.1. On-Scene
4.1.1. Members will notify a sergeant if EMS is called to a scene for transport and the reason for the transport. The sergeant will respond to the scene or consult with the member using radio or cell phone.
4.1.2. If members take a subject into custody that has been involved in a prolonged physical activity or exertion, members will ask the subject if they are under the influence of cocaine or amphetamine substances.
4.1.3. EMS personnel at a scene will determine whether an in-custody subject requires medical treatment and, if so, whether the subject requires ambulance transport to a hospital for further medical evaluation, or can be transported to jail or another holding facility by a member.
4.1.4. Members will advise EMS personnel of the custody status of the subject (i.e. arrested with criminal charges, police hold, etc.) as well as any use of force against the subject.
4.1.5. A subject in custody will not be able to refuse transport or leave while in custody.
4.1.6. The arresting members will make themselves available to provide complete and thorough information to EMS.
4.1.7. If the arresting member is unavailable due to injury or other legitimate reasons, witness members will provide the information to EMS.
4.2. Transport
4.2.1. If EMS determines a subject requires EMS transport, a thorough search of the subject will be performed, incident to arrest, when feasible, prior to the subject being place into the ambulance.
4.2.2. If AMR personnel request that a member ride in the ambulance during transport, a member will be assigned the task.
4.2.3. The ranking officer at the scene may assign a member to ride in the ambulance with a subject whether or not EMS personnel make the request.
4.2.4. If members transport a subject to jail or another holding facility, EMS will provide the transporting member(s) with a copy of the Pre-Hospital Treatment Worksheet.
4.2.5. Members will not sign a medical refusal form on behalf of a subject. Any such request will be immediately reported to a supervisor and documented in the appropriate report.
4.3. MCDC Booking
4.3.1. When members transport a subject to jail or another holding facility after EMS evaluation, members will contact the facility medical staff and provide them with a copy of the Pre-Hospital Treatment Worksheet.
4.3.2. If MCDC facility medical staff refuses to admit a subject, the refusing official will document the reasons for refusal on the Pre-Booking Emergency Response Record. The medical staff will have the responsibility of determining the appropriate mode of transport of the subject to a hospital.
4.3.3. When MCDC medical staff determines that EMS transport is appropriate, EMS will be called to the location. Subjects will not be placed into a police vehicle after it has been determined that EMS is the appropriate mode of transport.
4.3.4. When MCDC medical staff refuses to admit a subject but determines the subject can be transported to a hospital by police. Members will:
4.3.4.1. Notify a sergeant of the refusal (including the reasons(s) for the refusal) prior to transport in a police vehicle.
4.3.4.2. Include in their report the name of the medical staff member who clears the subject for police transport.
4.3.4.3. In cases evaluated by EMS before transport to jail, document in their report that a copy of the Pre-Hospital Medical Treatment Worksheet was delivered to facility staff.
5. ALL SITUATIONS
5.1. Members will immediately call EMS if they have any concerns or questions regarding a subject's medical status during an incident or custody situation. EMS will respond and evaluate/assess the subject's medical condition.
5.2. Once on-scene, EMS will have the responsibility of determining the appropriate medical treatment .
6. HISTORY
6.1. Established: 2007
6.2. Revision #1 Effective: 03/11/09
6.3. Revision #2 Effective: 06/21/13
6.4 Next Review Date: 06/21/15