Question

You are called to the scene where a 36-year-old male was shot in the back while running away from an assailant. While treating and attempting to stabilize the patient, what should be done with the clothing he was wearing?

A) Lay them to the side when they are cut or taken off; notify the officers on scene to allow them to gather the evidence properly
B) Place all cut or removed clothing between the patient's legs on the stretcher during transport to ensure the items make it to the emergency department where law enforcement will gather them properly
C) Place them in a plastic evidence bag, do not seal the bag; label it with the time, date, and your name with affiliation; and give it to law enforcement on scene
D) Place them in a paper bag along with the disposable latex gloves you were wearing when you took or cut the clothing off; seal the bag listing the items it contains; document patient's name, time/date, and your name and title on the bag

Answer 1

Removed clothing from a gunshot victim should be placed in a paper bag, properly labeled, and given to law enforcement for evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

When treating a 36-year-old male who was shot in the back, the clothing he was wearing should be handled with care to preserve potential evidence. The correct protocol would be to carefully remove the clothing, which may include cutting if necessary, and to handle it as little as possible to preserve any forensic evidence. Once the clothing is removed, it should not be placed in a plastic bag, as moisture can accumulate and degrade potential evidence. Instead, the clothing should be placed in a paper bag, along with the disposable latex gloves you were wearing when you cut or took the clothing off. The bag should then be sealed and annotated with the contents, the patient's name, the current date and time, and your name and title. Law enforcement officers on the scene should be notified about the clothing to take custody of it for evidence.