You're in a major accident.... Now what??

[True_Texan]

Today I was driving during work and I passed a pretty bad looking car accident. So of course I started thinking about the proper procedure when you are carrying concealed.

So, you get in a wreck, you are conscious and able to speak but unable to "walk away" from the accident. Do you inform the paramedics you have a firearm on your person? If so, what happens then? Do they have to wait for Police to come and remove the weapon meaning you have to wait longer for medical help?

If you are unconscious and they find the firearm on you. Do they confiscate it? Does it get thrown in a box of personal effects and you get it back later?

I've never been in any kind of SERIOUS wreck. One, I was able to walk away from without even a bruise after a dumb punk-ass kid smashed into me. Then the motorcycle one when I was 16. Locked the rear brake when someone in front of me slammed on their brakes at a green traffic light and after I dropped to the payment, rapidly sped off. I skidded to a halt on my butt as I watch my motorcycle slide past me. No real damage to myself or my bike. SORRY! Rambling now....

So what do you do?

[deepwater]

time to check your local laws.
I'm sure every state will be different, fortunately I haven't run into this stuation, but where I live now I would be worried. mostly because of corrupt cops. I don't think you have to worry too much in Texas though, pretty straight with legal carry. where about do you live?

[fightingquaker13]

Today I was driving during work and I passed a pretty bad looking car accident. So of course I started thinking about the proper procedure when you are carrying concealed.

So, you get in a wreck, you are conscious and able to speak but unable to "walk away" from the accident. Do you inform the paramedics you have a firearm on your person? If so, what happens then? Do they have to wait for Police to come and remove the weapon meaning you have to wait longer for medical help?

If you are unconscious and they find the firearm on you. Do they confiscate it? Does it get thrown in a box of personal effects and you get it back later?

I've never been in any kind of SERIOUS wreck. One, I was able to walk away from without even a bruise after a dumb punk-ass kid smashed into me. Then the motorcycle one when I was 16. Locked the rear brake when someone in front of me slammed on their brakes at a green traffic light and after I dropped to the payment, rapidly sped off. I skidded to a halt on my butt as I watch my motorcycle slide past me. No real damage to myself or my bike. SORRY! Rambling now....

So what do you do?

You tell them. I had a heat stroke putting up hurricane shutters (a polite term for 5/8 inch ply wood, which is damn heavy as we age) on my mom's house a couple of years ago. This was after putting up my grandads and great aunt's shutters and I was exhausted and dehydrated. I passed out, fell off a ladder and woke up in the ER, very confused. The doc started to examine me and I told him I had a gun. This being Florida, he took it in stride, emptied the cylinder of the chief's special (which I carried prior to drinking the Glock Kool aid) and put it in a bag with my wallet and keys. I got it back, along with a bill, when I checked out. No problem. Your mileage may vary.
FQ13

[C.O.T.U.S.]

Please God tell us if you have a weapon.  Most of us have no problems with carried weapons.  However, we like them much more when they're not in the hands of an individual who may or may not be thinking in an entirely appropriate frame of mind.  Usually there is an officer on scene with us so it would not take any extra time if an officer were to have to secure your weapon. 

Help us help you

[True_Texan]

time to check your local laws.
I'm sure every state will be different, fortunately I haven't run into this stuation, but where I live now I would be worried. mostly because of corrupt cops. I don't think you have to worry too much in Texas though, pretty straight with legal carry. where about do you live?

A short distance from San Antonio. Most of the police are cool about concealed carry. There is, however, one Texas State Highway Patrol officer that is an absolute jackass about it.

Please God tell us if you have a weapon.  Most of us have no problems with carried weapons.  However, we like them much more when they're not in the hands of an individual who may or may not be thinking in an entirely appropriate frame of mind.  Usually there is an officer on scene with us so it would not take any extra time if an officer were to have to secure your weapon. 

Help us help you

That is a good point. But I do know a few EMTs that wouldn't know a gun from a butt plug, but like you say, the police are usually on scene at an accident so I hope they would know what to do. Some officers here scare the CRAP out of me when it comes to guns... Then you need a butt plug to keep from messing yourself. 

[Sponsor]

[blackwolfe]

 

You tell them. I had a heat stroke putting up hurricane shutters (a polite term for 5/8 inch ply wood, which is damn heavy as we age) on my mom's house a couple of years ago. This was after putting up my grandads and great aunt's shutters and I was exhausted and dehydrated. I passed out, fell off a ladder and woke up in the ER, very confused. The doc started to examine me and I told him I had a gun. This being Florida, he took it in stride, emptied the cylinder of the chief's special (which I carried prior to drinking the Glock Kool aid) and put it in a bag with my wallet and keys. I got it back, along with a bill, when I checked out. No problem. Your mileage may vary.
FQ13

This is a good subject that needs some thoughts and hopefully some answers.
Quite a few years ago I was giving blood at a Red Cross blood drive as was a LEO in uniform.  As the LEO got up from giving blood he became lite headed and confused.  I don't know what was going through his head, but he drew his revolver and started waving it around.  One of the blood drive nurses talked to him calmly and told him everything was OK, that he was just a little out of it from giving blood.  I don't know how much he understood, but he handed his weopon to her which she promptly unloaded and got him to lie down.
I wonder how some of use might react if we were in an accident or had a medical situation and didn't comprehend what was going on.  Hopefully enoygh of our training would be ingrained in our subconcious that we would not preceive the situation as a threat and do something detremental.

[MikeBjerum]

When I taught I included a small section on finding weapons or dealing with the declaration of a weapon.

Unless the weapon was hindering evaluation and/or treatment it was left in place.  If the person is able to act rationally the weapon was left in their control (ask, advise, allow the patient to unload or make safe).  If the weapon hindered medical or rescue needs or the patient was not able to control it was to be placed under rescuer's control as personal property of patient and held as such (in empty compartment of gear bag kept just for property of patent that NEVER leaves rescuer's control).

All personal property taken is documented on paperwork.  If patient maintains control it is up to them to disclose at each level on their own, however it is to be recorded on paperwork.

As with all things taught each service was to verify these basics with their own department heads and swarm of sharks ... er ... ah ... attorneys.

My policy in teaching is that we are not there to take an inventory of everything someone has and report it or make it public knowledge.  We only need to assure our safety and the safety of the patient.

This is a very brief description of how I handled this, and it is only how I did it.  I know that there are emergency workers that are going to grab and turn over everything they find at first sight or knowledge, and there are some that will run and hide until all is clean.  Myself ... If I am capable of maintaining control you ain't going to get it.  If need be I will unload, but I will not give up to anyone but my choice and/or under my conditions.

[TAB]

I would highly recomend not telling them, many FD, have policys stating if there is a wepon on the schene, do nothing until a LEO arrives and secures it.  Atleast they do locally.

[ellis4538]

In Ohio I am required by law to tell a LEO if I have a weapon on my person.  It has been strongly recommended that the statement be worded in such a manner that "GUN" not be used.  Sometimes a partner you do not see just hears the word "GUN" and panics and might not handle the situation in the proper manner.  A medic is not a LEO so I am not sure what to do in that case but I probably, if able, would let them know and unload if able.  I do not know if medics or OR staff in Ohio have received firearms training to cover this situation or not.

FWIW

Richard

[Pathfinder]

Please God tell us if you have a weapon.  Most of us have no problems with carried weapons.  However, we like them much more when they're not in the hands of an individual who may or may not be thinking in an entirely appropriate frame of mind.  Usually there is an officer on scene with us so it would not take any extra time if an officer were to have to secure your weapon. 

Help us help you

Nice idea, but the younger LEOs (at least around her) don't have the same sentiment. I posted 2 weeks ago about a conversation I had, asked an innocent question - if stopped do we show the CCW or not? And for my troubles I was told by 3 officers that they would secure me (handcuffs) and then secure the weapon. It is after all, all about "officer safety"!