Emt

[imalazypup]

Would a certified EMT police officer be required to tend to the wounded within the capacity that he was trained in while on the job? Does it matter that he is not acting as EMS but as a police officer?

Of course, answer according to your own state laws, i'm in MI.

My FD is going to put me through EMT training in Janurary. My concern is that given a situation between chasing a perp or tending to the wounded I might be forced to tending to the wounded by law.

Thanks

Pup

[acreature]

Common sense should rule in such situations. If in the capacity of LE, LE duties should come first, and EMT where applicable and safe. EMS stands by until LE states it's clear to enter, so it would only make sense that an EMT certified LE make safe the scene prior to treating wounded.

[scott715us]

That's a hard one. My dept is dual certified (we do both police and fire) so about 1/3 of our officers are EMT's. The rest are first responders.

I would say by best judgement that if other officers can get to the perp just as fast as you, to try and treat those that are wounded. You will have a lot more training then most of the officers that go through the basic first aid class in the academy.

I was already an EMT when I went through the state police academy and the first aid training that was given was a joke. I don't mean to demean the officers (who were park rangers) that taught the class, but I believe officers need minimum first responder level training.

Many officers would rather leave the medical aspect up to the medics anyway. Although all the officers in my dept have more medical training than the average LEO in my area, many of them do not enjoy responding to medical calls. Just the nature of the beast. They would much rather do police work.

I definitely believe you'll be ahead of the game with an EMT license. In the event you have to use your medical training, you will be much more calm and collective than those that won't know what the hell to do. ;)

[P01IC3M4N]

in Texas, if you are an EMT and begin to treat a person, you are bound to that person unless relieved by a person of equal or higher training. if you leave them, you are liable for neglect of duty.

also, if you advertise that you are an EMT, you establish a duty to act.

i let mine expire when i went into cop work. it was no longer necessary. all you need as a police officer is basic first aid.