2/25/2023 0 Comments Obey me uniformsHe advises that, “When you have a person in front of you who is already identified as a being on the edge of the scale (the scale being from calm to agitated and fighting), there is no magic or secret, they are going to need to be physically restrained and anything else is not realistic as they are a danger, not only to themselves but to others and could potentially have a weapon.” Mehkri acknowledges that if a situation deteriorates rapidly, physical restraint is inevitable. This may lead to further escalation of the subject.ĭr. If the person is in an altered state they not may be to understand to obey commands and instructions given. While the average patrol officer does not have a blood pressure cuff, medical equipment, or detailed clinical knowledge, note signs such as a sweaty pallor or fast speech to indicate that the person is acutely agitated.Īs officers learn early in their law enforcement careers, compliance techniques, whether they be physical presentation, verbal commands or even physical restraint depend on a person having a clear capacity to communicate. Mehkri equates this to a person who has just run a marathon and the officer is stopping them dead in their tracks when they wish to keep running.Ībnormal vital signs such as an extremely fast heart rate or breathing, or extremely high blood pressure, are bad signs. If the person has a known history or appears to be under the influence of any drugs, particularly stimulating drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine, Mehkri advises this is a “big red flag.” It is reasonable to assume that the person is already going to be in a different physiologic state of mind where their body is ramped up, hyperactive and potentially aggressive. Information can be gathered from family members or friends regarding whether the person has a condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideations, or depression. The dispatch/communication center should, if possible, ascertain if there is a history of violence or a signal of previous crisis or behavioral health responses during the incoming 911 call and pass this on as vital information.įor the responding patrol officers, is it vital to find out if the person has a known psychiatric condition. Things a cop should know (or try to determine) when approaching a patient in crisis In simple terms, this is a police response to a medical emergency and the mentality should be one of intervention and treatment of the patient. The inevitable outcome, even though PD arrived first and must deal ahead of any other responder, ends with an EMS and hospital outcome. If everyone approaches the call and response with the mindset that the individual is someone in a mental health crisis or behavioral health emergency, the situation may not escalate on both sides as fast, if at all. (Getty Images)Īt the core of the session is the idea that the person at the center of the 911 call is in fact a patient – not a subject, criminal, perpetrator, or suspect, but a patient. Mehkri’s IACP 2022 session will cover the high-stress nature of responses to acutely agitated behavioral health emergency patients, as well as collaborative care with EMS, fire and other first responders.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |