The Martinelli Safety Protocol
What follows below is the “Training Safety Protocol” and the
“Normal Injury Assessment Protocol” utilized in Dr. Martinelli’s Officer Safety
Institute which offers dynamic, reality-based interactive training for law
enforcement self-defense and arrest and control tactics. It has been released
for publication by the Law Offices of Michael Stone and Ron Martinelli, Ph.D. *
The Training Safety
Protocol
All Officer Safety Institute (OSI) instructors follow this
Training Safety Protocol each time they instruct any Use of Force (UOF) or
dynamic role-playing training scenario.
Instructors should always error on the side of safety and repeat the
student assessment protocols whenever there is any question as to whether the
student might have any of the following:
Normal Injury Assessment
Protocol
1. Instructors explain the training objectives of each
course of instruction and underscore that dynamic scenarios with physical
competency testing while the student is “stress inoculated” are required to
pass the class.
2. Instructors fully explain the Training Safety Protocol
to the class and then to each student individually. Instructors inquire about the student’s
physical and medical history as indicated above. If a student advises an instructor that the
student has any physical limitations as described above, the student will be
identified by a conspicuous piece of colored tape placed on the clothing (which
will also identify any “protected area(s).”
3. If a student is identified as having a significant protected
area or preexisting medical problem, he/she will be identified by a large “X”
in colored tape, placed over the chest. The “X” identifies the student as a “non-dynamic
scenario” trainee, precluded from participating in high-stress or dynamic
physical training. All test forms will indicate that this student participated
in the training, but was not tested or certified under dynamic conditions.
4. Prior to and immediately following each dynamic testing
scenario, instructors will ask each student how he/she is doing physically and
whether any have sustained any injuries or have any new physical/medical
problems.
5. During the class, instructors make continuous contacts
with the students in class, especially those marked with colored tape to
determine whether there are any difficulties.
Instructors constantly monitor their students and are proactive in
assessing any potential problems before injury occurs.
6. Throughout the class, students are repeatedly encouraged
to seek out an instructor at the first sign of unusual soreness or potential
injury. Examples of warning signs are: unusual muscle fatigue, muscle strain,
sharp pain, throbbing pain, shortness of breath, prolonged and rapid pulse,
headache, and pain in joints.
7. Instructors immediately assess any student who
experiences any of the symptoms described above to determine whether the
training should be continued, modified or stopped.
8. Instructors identify all injuries and medical problems
sustained during the class on an injury report and ensure that injured students
fill out a Departmental worker’s compensation injury form.
9. Instructors identify any unusual physical or medical
problems in the section provided on the course test form to document the
existence of that problem regardless of whether or not that student was injured
during the class. Examples are injuries to protected area(s) or pre-existing
problems identified by the student and marked with tape in the beginning of
class. This helps protect the trainers from claims by students that they were
injured in the class, when in fact the injuries were pre-existing.
10. At the conclusion of each class, the instructors
personally assess each student to ensure that the student was not injured in
class, and to document any injury or problems that the student did not identify
to the instructor during class.
11. All injuries and medical problems are reported in
writing to the Department’s training manager immediately following the injury.
Minor injuries such as small cuts, muscle strains, or significant soreness can
be reported at the end of class.
Michael P. Stone, Esq.
and
Ron Martinelli, Ph.D.
Michael P. Stone is a member of the California Bar. He has
practiced almost exclusively in police law and litigation for 26 years,
following 13 years as a police officer, supervisor and police attorney.
Dr. Ron Martinelli, directs Martinelli & Associates:
Justice Consultants, LLC and its Officer Safety Institute. He is a Master Instructor in all levels of
force, and has been a certified Police Practices Expert and Trial Specialist
for 25 years in state and federal courts. Ron Martinelli can be reached at: Code3Law@aol.com or at (949) 376-1840
* Trainers: Are you liable for trainees’ injuries caused by
your alleged negligence? December 2005 Training Bulletin.