Carry and getting rushed to the hospital?

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Eightball

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No, this hasn't been an issue. So, driving around today, I saw a massive wreck on a main road here in town. I've been thinking of getting a new "always" CCW piece, and the thought struck me.......


Now, don't think me crazy when you read this, but if you were legally CCWing while driving, got into an accident and were unconscious, and rushed to the hospital or ER (or some equivalent), and everything winds up okay with your health....what happens to your firearm? Does the hospital "dispose" of it? Do they put it in a box with personal belongings? Do they call the cops to rifle through your wallet to find your CCW permit and have them mess with the firearm (and would you have to go through the usual rigamarole to get your gun back from them should they confiscate it)?

I know, I know, probably not the primary worry that should be on your mind when you awaken in a hospital after an accident, but something that I was wondering as I was sitting in traffic, nonetheless.

If this is the wrong forum, mods please move to correct forum.
 
At my hospital, we have a safe we keep valuable patient belongings in. We are supposed to notify security who does the paperwork and places the item in the safe.

That said, if it were in an ER or circumstance where the patient was unable to keep control of the firearm, I would first ask family (if available) to take charge of it, and if not available, would then follow the procedures. If the patient was awake/alert I would have them call family to take charge of it. The reason being quite simple, in a hospital setting a sick patient cannot maintain proper control of the firearm (you have to sleep/go to procedures/and lastly some staff are gun stupid). Not to mention some of the drugs they receive can have interesting side effects, and a patient have a psychotic reaction to narcotics is going to be trouble, period.
 
At my hospital, we have a safe we keep valuable patient belongings in. We are supposed to notify security who does the paperwork and places the item in the safe.

That said, if it were in an ER or circumstance where the patient was unable to keep control of the firearm, I would first ask family (if available) to take charge of it, and if not available, would then follow the procedures. If the patient was awake/alert I would have them call family to take charge of it. The reason being quite simple, in a hospital setting a sick patient cannot maintain proper control of the firearm (you have to sleep/go to procedures/and lastly some staff are gun stupid). Not to mention some of the drugs they receive can have interesting side effects, and a patient have a psychotic reaction to narcotics is going to be trouble, period
Click to expand...

SomeKid,thank you for that insight.
I've often thought about this situation myself as I'm out jogging alone 40 miles a week.
Hopefully ,someone with your common sense will be around if I run into trouble.:)
 
I concur that you might not want a gun in certain cases.
a patient have a psychotic reaction to narcotics is going to be trouble, period.
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Yep. Happened to me when I busted my arm. Not so much violent so much as curious about the nice shiny world. If I remember correctly (50-50 chance considering) they gave me everything I had on when I went to the ER in a zip-lock bag when I checked out. I remember being disappointed that they cut my shirt off of me and I got it back in pieces. Guess thats what happens when you get a compound fracture:rolleyes:
 
loaded, I was thinking more along the line of them thinking ITS A MONSTER COME TO KILL ME as they begin screaming, and fighting, and pretty well trying to put me in the bed across the hall. That kind of psychotic reaction. :eek:

Solo, Murpheys Law will kick in, and I (or the guy like me) will be off that day, and replaced by Sam and Suzy liberal, who hate guns, gun owners, and think of you as the Devil. ;)
 
Head injuries often make people physically combative. When the human body thinks it is dying, it goes into an animalistic "fight or flight" mode, where the person's survival instincts overcome logic.

In those sorts of cases, the last thing you want is for the person to have ANY weapons. The procedures for returning them vary. In my area, the police take charge of the weapon and, depending on the particular agency, you may or may not have trouble getting it back.
 
On most medic calls, crashes, etc. the police are on scene. Your gun would be secured in the property room and you could go about reclaiming it later.
 
My husband and I agreed awhile back that if I'm ever injured in a car accident while he was around, he would take my gun and secure it before the medics arrive.

I'd do the same for him, but he doesn't carry.

My teenage kids all know the drill, too.

pax
 
I was hit by a delivery van and knocked unconscious for 8-10 min. When I came around the police had already rifled my person and taken posession of my wallet, guns and boot knife. Told me I couldn't have the guns or knife in a hospital and could reclaim at Polizei Obergruppenamt, which I did the next day. I don't know what would have happened if I had said I didn't want the ambulance ride and would return to my hotel room to call a taxi.
 
It happened to me. I was never unconscious. The ambulance driver cleared the pistol (in front of me so I could watch him), put the pistol and magazine into a plastic drawstring bag, and placed it into my clutched hand. He said, "Don't ever let go of this, even in the hospital."

Then he drove us to the county hospital. Trauma ward people let me hold the bag, but out of convenience I set it down on the table next to me during x-rays. Then I carried it to the bed and kept it next to me. I was released after 3 hours, and never let the bag out of my reach.

No one ever asked to see a Concealed Firearm Permit, no one challenged me, no one ever questioned it, no one ever made a comment. I got the impression that it happens occassionally in a trauma ward and medical personnel get used to it.
 
My friend was in a horrible auto accident in Kansas City while carrying his Springfield Armory XD-9. The paramedics would not touch him until the police removed the gun from his holster. He spent over a month in the hospital due to several surgeries and recovery. During this time, he received a notice that the police department had his gun. They were going to destroy it if he didn't come get it within 30 days. He had to send his Dad to the police station to retrieve his gun. His Dad had to go through the entire background procedure, had to show proof that his son owned the gun, also had to show proof that his son was his son before the police would let him take it.

He got it back but from what I understood, it was a hassle.
 
I've had a few pt's on the ambulance who have a CHL and who've had their gun on them when they've had trouble breathing or been in an accident and usually it just depends on what they're like. If they're really agitated and excited or angry, it's coming off them as they get treated ("Can you move the gun sir, it's getting in the way of the EKG and the 12 lead").

If they're calm I just let them keep it until right before we get to the hospital and then I ask for it, I unload it and stick it in a bag for them and either they keep it with them (unloaded w/the ammo separate from the gun) or in some of the big hospitals where they might freak out about it I just take it to the charge nurse and they stick it in the safe until they're discharged.

Never heard of anyone trying to hang on to a pt's gun.
 
I visited the ER for an ear injury, carrying IWB 1911 wasn't a big deal until they had me roll onto my left (weak) side and my shirt revealed the bottom of the grip and the belt straps. The nurse politely pulled my shirt down over it and said something about keeping it concealed with a wink. I think he'd seen it when I removed my jacket (primary cover), we were in the "room" with the curtain pulled. I left without incident, gun and ear intact. I have no idea what the policy of the hospital is nor did I care much when I got there.
 
That said, if it were in an ER or circumstance where the patient was unable to keep control of the firearm, I would first ask family (if available) to take charge of it ... and lastly some staff are gun stupid.
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So are some family members. I'd rather see it locked up than given to an anti sister (for example, mine), or somebody who just didn't know what to do with it. And woe unto you if the family member was a felon.
 
I'm not gonna say that I speak for all LEOs or all agencies, and it's best if you familiarize yourself with all applicable laws in your state regarding CCW, but this is how I, a LEO in NJ, would handle a firearm (CCW, shotgun in a case, whatever) in the case of a vehicle accident where you're going to the hospital. I would clear and secure the firearm and bring it back to our department. At some point in the near future, we would need you (or someone you designate) to stop by with your valid firearms permit, pistol permit (if applicable), and CCW permit if that's how you were carrying it. Then, once you get out of the hospital, you'd get your weapon back. End of story. The weapon is taken for safe-keeping, not seized as evidence or part of domestic violence laws so it is not subject to the 30 day rule for destruction.

Bear in mind that this means: if you are unlicensed to own, unauthorised to carry, carrying/owning a stolen weapon, a convicted felon etc. then you're probably not getting the weapon back and you may be facing other problems on top of your injuries...
 
W.E.G. wrote
It is generally not the responsibility or authority of medical responders to secure any property whatsoever.
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Not accurate. Call your local hospital's risk management department and ask how much they have paid out this year on lost patient valuables.

I wish it wasn't a medical responsibility, but our litigious society has made it so. The OP's question is quite valid.
 
Flyboy says...

So are some family members. I'd rather see it locked up than given to an anti sister (for example, mine), or somebody who just didn't know what to do with it. And woe unto you if the family member was a felon.
Click to expand...

A valid point except the last part. Unless I knowingly turn a gun over to a felon, I have not committed a crime. Ideally, the patient would decide, however if family is present it is generally better to turn property to over to them. Yes, you can use your imagination and find ways it will bite me, but in reality, a little common sense and general decency is best.
 
Quote:
It is generally not the responsibility or authority of medical responders to secure any property whatsoever.


Not accurate. Call your local hospital's risk management department and ask how much they have paid out this year on lost patient valuables.

I wish it wasn't a medical responsibility, but our litigious society has made it so. The OP's question is quite valid.
Click to expand...

I agree...despite almost universal wording in the admissions paperwork and various policies about the facility not being responsible for personal belongings (usually jewlery, medications and dentures...) that go missing, hospitals routinely pay tens of thousands of dollars each year to replace these things.

As far as any process for securing weapons brought into the ED, it varies with the facility and the people working. I have been asked to secure weapons that have been found on patients simply because others involved had no idea how to do so. If the facility does not have a secure storage method, it is likely that the local police will be called to take possession of the firearm.
 
Well, a couple of years ago while traveling (about 120 miles from home) I had a killer migraine and had to be taken to the ER. I mean, it was *bad*. I couldn't see or stand, had no idea what time it was, etc. It did occur to me as I was being helped out of the car into a wheelchair that I was armed and probably shouldn't be. I was conscious, but in no position to safely handle a firearm so I just let it stay in my pocket. Not sure if I could have articulated the message "I have a legally carried handgun" to them in a reasonable manner even if I wanted to. Nothing ever became of it and it stayed in my pocket the whole time. I guess that's the up-side of being in a smaller town, the ER doesn't have metal detectors.
 
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