Emergency Care.

Principle:

After controlling any dangerous situations or persons, the initial responding officer(s’) next responsibility is to ensure that medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing contamination of the scene.

Policy:

The initial responding officer(s) shall ensure that medical attention is provided with minimal contamination of the scene.

Procedure:

The responding officer(s) should:

a. Assess the victim(s) for signs of life and medical needs and provide immediate medical attention.

b. Call for medical personnel.

c. Guide medical personnel to the victim to minimize contamination/alteration of the crime scene.

d. Point out potential physical evidence to medical personnel and instruct them to minimize contact with such evidence (e.g. ensure that medical personnel preserve all clothing and personal effects without cutting through bullet holes, knife tears etc.). Document movement of persons or items by medical personnel.

e. Instruct medical personnel not to clean up the scene, and to avoid removal or alteration of items originating from the scene.

f. If medical personnel arrived first, obtain the name, unit, and telephone number of attending personnel, and the name and location of the medical facility where the victim is to be taken.

g. If there is a chance the victim may die, attempt to obtain a ‘dying declaration’. In some instances, fingerprint and shoe impressions of medical personnel may need to be taken for elimination purposes.

h. Document any statements/comments made by victims, suspects, or witnesses at the scene.

i. If the victim or suspect is transported to a medical facility, send a law enforcement official with the victim or suspect to document any comments made, and to preserve evidence. (If no officers are available to accompany the victim/suspect, stay at the scene and request medical personnel to preserve evidence and document any comments made by the victim or suspect).

j. Safeguard evidence, such as a payload that is taken into custody. Follow chain-of- custody procedures as soon as the evidence is confiscated.

Summary:

Assisting, guiding and instructing medical personnel during the care and removal of injured persons will diminish the risk of contamination and loss of evidence.