EPFD explains how they handle Emergency Detention Orders

A man jumped from a Life Ambulance on I-10 Monday morning, resulting in his death.

24-year old Abner Lozano was being transported under an Emergency Detention Order (EDO) when he leapt out of the ambulance. Lozano later died at University Medical Center.

ABC-7 spoke to El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) about how they handle EDO’s, and with the Texas Department of State Health Services about what the regulations are when it comes to an EDO.

We asked Martin Dominguez, a paramedic trainer with EPFD, about how to restrain an EDO patient. He said, “we use three straps, one across their waist, one across their chest, and one across their legs.”

Dominguez adds that an officer also accompanies EDO patients with EPFD ambulances.

Life Ambulance did not have an officer in the ambulance at the time of the incident. ABC-7 asked the Texas Department of State Health Services, who overseas ambulance services within the state, about whether or not they were required to have an officer in the ambulance during an EDO transport.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says that Life Ambulance is not required to have an officer present during an EDO transport.