Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL
GENERAL ORDER I-4 Rev.
22 Jan 97
Index as: Ambulance Service Emergency Ambulance Medical Emergency Medical Response
Page 1 of 6
AMBULANCE SERVICE
This order sets forth Departmental policy and procedures for requesting ambulance service. I. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIELD OFFICERS
A. Crime Scene Management
1. In order to ensure medical responder safety and expedite medical service, officers responding to any assault where a
weapon is involved shall advise the Communications
Division immediately upon their arrival at the scene.
2. Officers shall assess the situation to determine if it is safe for medical responders to approach [i.e., firefighters and ambulance crew(s)]. However, medical responders are not prohibited from proceeding directly to the scene prior to receiving a clearance from the on-scene officer(s).
a) If the scene is not safe for medical responders, officers shall relay this information to the Communications Division.
b) Officers shall notify the Communications Division
when the scene is safe for medical responders and
firefighters to approach.
3. Officers may limit access to the scene as necessary to ensure their safety and that of others.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER I-4 Rev.
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 22 Jan 97
4. Police Department personnel shall notify the medical
responders of any evidentiary concerns upon their arrival.
5. Incident control shall rest with the ranking police officer (commander) present, subject to the following guidelines:
a) The senior Fire Department official will have final authority regarding a decision to rescue persons from a burning building or at a hazardous materials incident.
b) The medical judgment of the most qualified public safety provider on the scene shall prevail in matters of
patient care. In general, the most qualified persons, in
order, will be: 1) paramedics (ambulance personnel); 2) Fire Department personnel; 3) Police Department personnel.
c) Patient transportation and choice of hospital(s) shall be determined by ambulance personnel in accordance with medical protocols.
d) When police concerns or public safety issues (e.g., gunfire, riot, etc.) exist, the ranking police officer at the scene shall have authority over ambulance personnel regarding the rescue or transportation of sick or injured persons.
e) Assigned officers shall not delay treatment or transportation of patients for non-emergency investigative purposes.
B. Ambulance Service Requests Ambulance service shall be ordered through the Communications Division. The following information shall be provided with each request:
1. The exact location where the ambulance is needed.
Page 2 of 6
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER I-4 Rev.
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 22 Jan 97
2. Response code: Code 2 or 3.
3. Whether the Fire Services Agency is needed.
Note: The Fire Services Agency normally will respond when a code 3 ambulance is requested.
4. Nature of incident, for example:
Vehicle collision Overdose
Stabbing Gunshot
Unknown seizure Assault
Psychiatric Unknown illness
Other injury (specify)
5. The sex and approximate age of patient.
6. Whether the patient is conscious.
7. Whether the patient has difficulty in breathing.
C. Requesting/Canceling Standby Ambulance
1. A standby ambulance may be requested in situations where there is a high potential for serious injury. Such situations include, but are not limited to the following:
a) Hostage or barricaded suspect scenes.
b) Hazardous materials incidents.
c) Service of search or arrest warrants where suspect(s) are known or believed to be armed and likely to resist.
d) Major demonstrations where violence potential is high.
2. The person requesting a standby ambulance must specify where the standby ambulance should stage or meet with
police officers.
Page 3 of 6
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER I-4 Rev.
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 22 Jan 97
3. A standby ambulance shall be canceled as soon as possible.
D. Determination of Death in the Field To declare a person is dead in the field, an officer must determine that one or more of the following conditions exist:
1. Decomposition of body tissues.
2. Decapitation.
3. Incineration.
4. Rigor Mortis. Note: A pulseless, non-breathing person with rigor mortis may not be declared dead at the scene if drug ingestion or hypothermia is a possible contributing factor.
E. Cancellation/Reduction of Fire and Ambulance Response
1. A request for medical response may be canceled upon determination that the incident does not involve an injury or illness which would require assessment, treatment or transportation to a hospital.
2. A medical response may be canceled if a person is declared dead in the field.
3. A medical response may be reduced from code 3 to code 2 upon determination that an illness or injury is not immediately life threatening.
4. If in doubt, requesters shall not cancel or reduce a medical response.
F. Consent and Refusal of Medical Treatment
1. Competent persons 18 or older may refuse care or
transportation. If medical personnel ask an officer to witness
a
Page 4 of 6
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER I-4 Rev.
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 22 Jan 97
person’s refusal, the officer may do so without assuming medical responsibility for that person.
2. Normally, persons 18 or older should be regarded as incompetent
to refuse care or transportation if any of the
following conditions exist. (A welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150 hold may be appropriate if persons cannot be persuaded to accept medical service.)
a) The person has an altered level of consciousness.
b