POLICE PERFORMANCE AT MEDICAL EMERGENCIES - THE NON-MEDICAL ASPECTS

• NCJ Number: 64287
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 66-69
• Author(s): J V PITTMAN; C Y THOMASON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Grant Number(s): HS01767
• Sponsoring Agency: National Ctr for Health Services Research
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF A STUDY IN WHICH A PANEL OF POLICE OFFICERS FROM A LARGE METROPOLITAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT RANKED, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, OFFICERS' NONMEDICAL DUTIES IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

THE STUDY WAS PART OF A RESEARCH PROJECT WHICH EVALUATED POLICE OFFICER PERFORMANCE AS FIRST RESPONDERS TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. IN SUCH SITUATIONS OFFICERS MAY NEED TO PERFORM BOTH FIRST AID TASKS AND TRADITIONAL POLICE TASKS. THEY MUST, THEREFORE, DECIDE WHICH TASKS ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE GIVEN SITUATION. THE POLICE OFFICER PANEL INCLUDED INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL LEVELS OF THE DEPARTMENT. THE PANEL DEVELOPED LISTS OF POLICE TASKS THAT SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT THE SCENE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AS WELL AS THE CONDITIONS AT THE SCENE THAT WOULD AFFECT THE OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE. TASKS INCLUDED TRAFFIC AND CROWD CONTROL, PRESERVATION OF THE SCENE, PROTECTION OF THE INJURED AND THEIR PROPERTY, COMMUNICATION, IDENTIFICATION, INTERROGATION, SEARCH, APPREHENSION, OBTAINING INFORMATION AND PREPARING REPORTS, AND EVACUATION. RELEVANT CONDITIONS AT THE SCENE INCLUDED LOCATION, PRESENCE OF PERSONS OR VEHICLES, AND PRESENCE OF CRIME FACTORS. CATEGORIES OF SITUATIONS INCLUDED CRIME SCENES, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS. THESE CATEGORIES AND CONDITIONS WERE COMBINED INTO 24 SEPARATE SITUATIONS. FOR EACH, THE PANEL RATED POLICE TASKS ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 100. RESULTS SHOWED THAT PROTECTION OF THE INJURED, COMMUNICATION, TRAFFIC AND CROWD CONTROL, AND OBTAINING INFORMATION WERE VIEWED, IN THAT ORDER, AS THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICE TASKS IN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. COMMUNICATION WAS RATED UNIFORMLY HIGH IN ALL SITUATIONS; OBTAINING INFORMATION, UNIFORMLY LOW. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH RATING SYSTEMS PERMITS MORE OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF OFFICER PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION, THE PROCESS OF ASSIGNING PRIORITIES COULD BE A USEFUL TRAINING EXERCISE. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)