List and discuss the five key steps for first responder preservation of evidence.
Law enforcement personnel understand the concept of the preservation of evidence, not only is it critical in the prosecution of a criminal case, but the position of evidence plays a factor in the forensics investigation with the cause of death or injury. Unfortunately, other emergency services personnel are not in tune with the importance of preserving evidence because it is not a primary job focus like law enforcement and the lack of education attributes to the disconnect. The more emergency services organizations can work together in the focus of evidence preservation, it will result in positive outcomes and minimize confusion and tensions between organizations. …show more content…
As a matter of routine, EMS frequently moves furniture and other items in homes, offices and other locations to make room for the stretcher or to ease the movement of the patient out to the ambulance. In such cases of a cardiac arrest where CPR is being performed, the necessity to move the patient out of the residence for example becomes more urgent. Thus, movement of furniture and other items at times in done in haste, not to mention medical gloves and other EMS/medical trash is occasionally left behind. EMS personnel are inclined to revert to common practices during suspected crime scenes when patient movement is critical, and movement of furniture and potential evidence is unknowingly done. Unfortunately, I have seen similar issues as a firefighter while on scenes of a fatal motor vehicle accident a younger firefighter begins sweeping the vehicle debris from the roadway, because in over 90% of the accidents cleaning up the roadway is what we do. There have been hard lessons learned in my area with understanding the importance of evidence preservation. Education was a result of previous errors and the importance of not moving things unless necessary has been stressed, and if by chance something is moved to notify law enforcement immediately. However, with the newer generation of emergency …show more content…
Avoid evidence contamination caused by walking through the scene. Stretch a rope or crime scene tape and instruct personnel to walk along the established path. I have found EMS and firefighters are the worst (at least in my area) when it comes to respecting the crime scene tape. Some tend to totally ignore and walk through the area that is being protected. During my time as a firefighter, I experienced many situations where my colleagues walked through a debris field on fatal motor vehicle accidents. Thus, disturbing the debris, perhaps walking through blood and carrying the bloody boot prints to other areas of the scene. The frustrating piece is there was no need for them to be there or it was not necessary for them to be in center of the debris field, the patients were all removed, the vehicles involved were secured and there was no threat of fire. I found my self many times immediately questioning them and explaining the concept of evidence preservation. The fire company developed a protocol that once the threats were stabilized and all patients removed all firefighters gather on the outer circle of the scene and wait for instructions from law
Law enforcement personnel understand the concept of the preservation of evidence, not only is it critical in the prosecution of a criminal case, but the position of evidence plays a factor in the forensics investigation with the cause of death or injury. Unfortunately, other emergency services personnel are not in tune with the importance of preserving evidence because it is not a primary job focus like law enforcement and the lack of education attributes to the disconnect. The more emergency services organizations can work together in the focus of evidence preservation, it will result in positive outcomes and minimize confusion and tensions between organizations. …show more content…
As a matter of routine, EMS frequently moves furniture and other items in homes, offices and other locations to make room for the stretcher or to ease the movement of the patient out to the ambulance. In such cases of a cardiac arrest where CPR is being performed, the necessity to move the patient out of the residence for example becomes more urgent. Thus, movement of furniture and other items at times in done in haste, not to mention medical gloves and other EMS/medical trash is occasionally left behind. EMS personnel are inclined to revert to common practices during suspected crime scenes when patient movement is critical, and movement of furniture and potential evidence is unknowingly done. Unfortunately, I have seen similar issues as a firefighter while on scenes of a fatal motor vehicle accident a younger firefighter begins sweeping the vehicle debris from the roadway, because in over 90% of the accidents cleaning up the roadway is what we do. There have been hard lessons learned in my area with understanding the importance of evidence preservation. Education was a result of previous errors and the importance of not moving things unless necessary has been stressed, and if by chance something is moved to notify law enforcement immediately. However, with the newer generation of emergency …show more content…
Avoid evidence contamination caused by walking through the scene. Stretch a rope or crime scene tape and instruct personnel to walk along the established path. I have found EMS and firefighters are the worst (at least in my area) when it comes to respecting the crime scene tape. Some tend to totally ignore and walk through the area that is being protected. During my time as a firefighter, I experienced many situations where my colleagues walked through a debris field on fatal motor vehicle accidents. Thus, disturbing the debris, perhaps walking through blood and carrying the bloody boot prints to other areas of the scene. The frustrating piece is there was no need for them to be there or it was not necessary for them to be in center of the debris field, the patients were all removed, the vehicles involved were secured and there was no threat of fire. I found my self many times immediately questioning them and explaining the concept of evidence preservation. The fire company developed a protocol that once the threats were stabilized and all patients removed all firefighters gather on the outer circle of the scene and wait for instructions from law