Background: After officer-involved shootings (OIS), rapid delivery of emergency medical care is critical but may be delayed due to scene safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to describe medical care rendered by law enforcement officers (LEOs) after lethal force incidents.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of open-source video footage of OIS occurring from February 15, 2013 through December 31, 2020. Frequency and nature of care provided, time until LEO and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) care, and mortality outcomes were evaluated. The study was deemed exempt by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board.
Results: Three hundred forty-two (342) videos were included in the final analysis; LEOs rendered care in 172 (50.3%) incidents. Average elapsed time from time-of-injury (TOI) to LEO-provided care was 155.8 (SD = 198.8) seconds. Hemorrhage control was the most common intervention performed. An average of 214.2 seconds elapsed between LEO care and EMS arrival. No mortality difference was identified between LEO versus EMS care (P = .1631). Subjects with truncal wounds were more likely to die than those with extremity wounds (P < .00001).
Conclusions: It was found that LEOs rendered medical care in one-half of all OIS incidents, initiating care on average 3.5 minutes prior to EMS arrival. Although no significant mortality difference was noted for LEO versus EMS care, this finding must be interpreted cautiously, as specific interventions, such as extremity hemorrhage control, may have impacted select patients. Future studies are needed to determine optimal LEO care for these patients.
Keywords: first-aid; gunshot wound; law enforcement; operational medicine; tactical medicine.