E.M.T.s say Police Need First Responder Training  

The question of whether injured individuals in police custody should be taken to the hospital by officers for immediate medical attention remains a topic of much discussion. Earlier this year, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams explained that it is not the responsibility of the police and explained that by doing so, the police may put individuals at risk of further injury. Today, we spoke with emergency medical technician, Javier Canul, who has been working in the field for over twenty-five years, about this issue. He explained that not only should officers refrain from transporting people to the hospital, but they should be trained in providing first responder care to stabilize patients until an E.M.T. arrives at the scene. 

 

Javier Canul, Lead instructor, ABC Life Support

 “The question is being asked, should police officers should take the injured. The answer to that is no. What the police officers should do is be properly trained to maintain and stabilize that patient until the ambulance come or until help comes along. So their is job is to secure the area, make sure it is safe, one. And then two, get down there, and if the patient is not breathing, open the air way. If the patient is bleeding, stop the bleeding. If the patient needs cpr, they should start it. The job of the police is to stabilize the patient until the ambulance gets there. The job of the police is not to jump and throw anybody at the back of any vehicle and run with them. That’s the role of the police department.”

 

Reporter

“Does that hurt them more if they do that?”

 

Javier Canul

“Definitely if they put them in a vehicle and run and throw them around. Definitely so.”