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Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/04/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Medical Aid and Response - 1 Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Medical Aid and Response 436.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy recognizes that members often encounter persons in need of medical aid and establishes a law enforcement response to such situations. 436.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Santa Monica Police Department that all officers and other designated members be trained to provide emergency medical aid and to facilitate an emergency medical response. 436.3 FIRST RESPONDING MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Whenever practicabl e, members should take appropriate steps to provide initial medical aid (e.g., first aid, CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)) in accordance with their training and current certification levels. This should be done for those in need of immediate care and only when the member can safely do so. Prior to initiating medical aid, the member should contact Public Safety Communications Center and request response by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as the member deems appropriate. Members shoul d follow universal precautions when providing medical aid, such as wearing gloves and avoiding contact with bodily fluids, consistent with the Communicable Diseases Policy. Members should use a barrier or bag device to perform rescue breathing. When reques ting EMS, the member should provide Public Safety Communications Center with information for relay to EMS personnel in order to enable an appropriate response, including: (a) The location where EMS is needed. (b) The nature of the incident. (c) Any known scene hazards . (d) Information on the person in need of EMS, such as: 1. Signs and symptoms as observed by the member. 2. Changes in apparent condition. 3. Number of patients, sex, and age, if known. 4. Whether the person is conscious, breathing, and alert, or is believed to have consumed drugs or alcohol. 5. Whether the person is showing signs or symptoms of extreme agitation or is engaging in violent irrational behavior accompanied by profuse sweating, extraordinary strength beyond their physical characteristics, and imperviousness to pain. Member s should stabilize the scene whenever practicable while awaiting the arrival of EMS. Policy 436 Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/04/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Medical Aid and Response - 2 Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Medical Aid and Response Members should not direct EMS personnel whether to transport the person for treatment. 436.4 TRANSPORTING ILL AND INJURED PERSONS Except in exceptional cases where alternatives are not reasonably available, members should not transport persons who are not in custody and who are unconscious, who have serious injuries, or who may be seriously ill. EMS personnel should be called to handle patient transportation. For guidelines regarding transporting ill or injured persons who are in custody, see the Transporting Persons in Custody Policy. Members should not provide emerge ncy escort for medical transport or civilian vehicles. 436.5 PERSONS REFUSING EMS CARE If a person who is not in custody refuses EMS care or refuses to be transported to a medical facility, a sworn officer shall not force that person to receive care or be trans ported. However, members may assist EMS personnel when EMS personnel determine the person lacks mental capacity to understand the consequences of refusing medical care or to make an informed decision and the lack of immediate medical attention may result i n serious bodily injury or the death of the person. In cases where mental illness may be a factor, the officer should consider proceeding with a 72 - hour treatment and evaluation commitment (5150 commitment) process in accordance with the Mental Illness Co mmitments Policy. If a sworn officer believes that a person who is in custody requires EMS care and the person refuses, he/she should encourage the person to receive medical treatment. The officer may also consider contacting a family member to help persua de the person to agree to treatment or who may be able to authorize treatment for the person. If the person who is in custody still refuses, the officer will require the person to be transported to the nearest medical facility. In such cases, the officer should consult with a supervisor prior to the transport. Members shall not sign refusal -for-treatment forms or forms accepting financial responsibility for treatment. 436.6 MEDICAL ATTENTION RELATED TO USE OF FORCE Specific guidelines for medical attention for injuries sustained from a use of force may be found in the Use of Force, Handcuffing and Restraints, Control Devices and Techniques, and Conducted Energy Device policies. 436.7 AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) USE A member may use an AED only after receiving appropriate training from an approved public safety first aid and CPR course (22 CCR 100026.01; 22 CCR 100027.01; 22 CCR 100027.02). Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/04/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Medical Aid and Response - 3 Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy