Why this is not done!

[adamjh3]

Bear in mind that I know next to nothing about emergency medicine right now.

However, I would like to chime in and say that I think the patient grabbing the officer's gun is a non issue. Most departments issue holsters with active retention. That plus yourself and the officer both fighting to keep the pt from actually getting a hand on the weapon, I'd say the chances are so low as to be negligible.

Again, just my $0.02, take it for what it's worth.

 

[JPINFV]

Then why the bracelets? If I had the pt secured in that fashion then I wouldn't need an LEO after that point, anyway. I'd probably drop a lock on them while onscene since the extra hands are there, so I can chemically restrain them IV vs IM if necessary.

That's a valid question. However convicts and suspects in police custody should always be transported with a law enforcement/corrections officer and be restrained, up to and including 4 points. If the patient is also spitting, then additional control measures should be taken. I do agree that psychiatric patients with a properly executed hold does not need police escort during transport.

 

[DrParasite]

But there's still the issue of a loaded gun within reach, and nowhere to take shelter.

easy solution: the officer gives his sidearm to his partner, who is following behind the ambulance. this way the cuffs can be removed at a moments notice, a trained restraint expert is in the ambulance, and no firearms are in the back of the ambulance.

yes, I know this doesn't work where you have one cop patrolling an entire county or middle of nowhere, but in the urban and suburban areas I have worked, it works just fine.

 

[dmc2007]

The cruiser rides right behind the bus. It takes less than 30 seconds to pull over and have the LEO jump in back if there's an issue. Anyway, how far is the pt going with an arm cuffed to the cot? No liability there regarding airway, since they're sitting fowler's/semi-fowlers or whatever. It works well for us, and is acceptable under our SOP's.

If the perp grabs the gun, where are you going to hide? I'll accept a 30 second delay in LEO assistance with a pt that is already restrained, should I need to remove the cuff for some reason vs getting shot.

I have confidence in an officer's ability to retain his/her weapon. I don't, however, have confidence in my ability to quickly remove restraints which I am not trained to use nor in having an officer in a cruiser behind the ambulance having the ability to respond quickly enough if needed.

Not to mention, if my patient is such a danger that he/she needs to be restrained, I certainly would like to have an extra pair of hands present, especially one that is trained in defensive tactics and the use of force.