Recommendation 1
IOPC recommendationThe IOPC recommends that the MPS may want to consider reviewing and updating the sudden death Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to include under the 'first contact' heading 'request if anyone present is medically trained to initiate first aid / CPR.’
No first aid or CPR was given to the injured party at the scene by the members of the public or requested to be by the police call handler, or questions to whether it had been given, or for signs of life and is this was verified, just the assumption that the injured person was already deceased.
Do you accept the recommendation?
No
The MPS has considered your recommendation to review and update the sudden death SOP to include under the ‘first contact’ heading ‘request if anyone present is medically trained to initiate first aid/CPR.
The MPS does not accept this recommendation as First Contact recruits are already instructed not to use the opening code ‘Sudden Death’ for this type of incident. If a first call handler accidentally uses the opening code ‘sudden death, it becomes apparent by the content that this SOP is not the appropriate code to use for these circumstances.
The SOP can later be used after police arrive on scene and verification is obtained; the call handler is then required to request the attendance of LAS at the scene if they are not already in attendance.
The relevant opening code ‘Collapse, illness, injury, trapped’ directs the call handler to the SOP which already states: “After giving this simple advice, if there are further questions, operators will simply revert to our standard position that we are not trained to give medical advice and an ambulance has been called and to ask if anyone else present has medical / first aid training.