183 / 222
183
EMR
EMT
AEMT
Paramedic
Extended
Transport of Arrestees
Transportation of arrestees presents a unique challenge to prehospital care providers. Arrestees may be a flight
risk to society and a safety risk to prehospital care providers.
The safety of prehospital care providers will be maintained at all times during transport. For this specific patient
population, restraints that require a key may be necessary. The restraint device selected should never interfere or
delay appropriate patient treatment during transport. The custodial law enforcement officer must accompany the
patient in the transport vehicle during the entire transport when restraints that require a key are in use. All
restraint devices selected should be applied and secured prior to the initiation of transport. Prehospital care
providers may not accept primary responsibility for possession or use of the key for the restraining device.
Restraints that may restrict chest wall motion are prohibited. The acceptable positions for transport of the
patient are outlined in the restraint policy. Prehospital care providers may request complete or partial removal of
a restraint device if a medical emergency arises and the restraint device interferes with patient care and
treatment. Physical assessment of the restrained arrestee should be performed in accordance with the restraint
policy.
The decision to refuse elective transport of an arrestee may be made by any member of the prehospital care
team or a supervisor at any time the arrestee is too violent or uncooperative to be controlled by the restraint
methods and devices permitted by the Trumbull Memorial Hospital EMS Protocols. The prehospital care
provider reserves the right to suggest to medical facilities the use of adequate pharmacological restraints prior to
acceptance of the patient. The prehospital care provider reserves the right to request completion of transport by
the custodial law enforcement personnel. The prehospital care provider may administer an appropriate dose of
Haldol and Versed as a pharmacological restraint prior to transport of the patient. Medical direction may be
contacted at any time for advice or for pharmacological orders.
Transport of Arrestees