NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans EMS says no weapons are allowed on any of their ambulances. The department says they've rolled out new 'no weapons allowed' stickers on all their trucks, so patients know they can't bring a weapon on board.
EMS Providers are the ones who help us when we're at our most critical moments, but how can they come to our aid, if they're hurt?
That's the question New Orleans EMS Chief Bill Salmeron asked when the new permitless carry law went into effect. He says carrying a weapon in an ambulance has always been illegal. Now he says by displaying the sticker, personnel can say to someone a weapon isn't allowed inside the ambulance.
Providers couldn't say that before.
The Chief said, "You will now see on the side of our trucks as far as no weapons allowed." He went on to say, "We really didn't have any legal standing to say it's not allowed in the back of the truck or you need to leave your weapon at home."
Stickers are now plastered on the side of the city's life-saving trucks. Some French Quarter business owners did this earlier this year to keep guns out of their business.
"We considered gun safes in the outer compartments and a lot of times those altered weapons have hair triggers and are easy to go off and you hit a pothole or a bump it may shoot through and these trucks aren't bulletproof."
Chief Salmeron says if the patient has a weapon, whether it's a knife or a gun, they'll be asked to leave it with a friend or family member.
NOPD said, "NOPD officers assist our public safety partners at New Orleans EMS when a patient is found to be in possession of a firearm. This relationship will not change with the new stickers being used by NOEMS. In such situations, if NOPD is not already on scene, officers are notified and will respond to collect any weapons prior to EMS transporting the patient(s) to local medical facilities. Any such firearms are handled according to NOPD protocol regarding whether the weapon is considered evidence in an investigation and collected as such for processing. If it is considered personal property not involved in an investigation, it would be held for return to the rightful owner. The NOPD continues to assist all of our public safety partners when called upon."
The Chief said, "We may also have one of our other staff members go out there and just stand by till NOPD gets there and take possession of the weapon."
According to Arcadian Ambulances, they've been following a similar protocol for more than a decade. Randall Mann with the ambulance service said, "Our policy is we will secure a weapon with a family member or with law enforcement before we transport them, we will not transport a weapon with a patient."
The Chief says this rule isn't about impeding on anyone's constitutional rights, but about protecting EMS Providers, as they guide us, the patients, through our darkest moments.
Chief Salmeron said the new protocol will not reduce the department's effectiveness or efficiency in care.
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