An Oxford firefighter and Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy came in contact with potentially contaminated blood during a Monday, April 12 encounter with a man who reportedly has hepatitis C.
The sheriff’s deputy and members of the Oxford Fire Department were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Crestwood around 11:27 a.m. in response to a call from a 27-year-old male described as suicidal.
After he arrived on the scene, the deputy walked the man back to an ambulance stationed outside.
According to the sheriff’s report, the man told an Oxford firefighter/paramedic that he had suicidal thoughts; that he was a diabetic and had not taken his insulin that day; that he drank two beers prior to emergency personnel’s arrival; and he thought he was withdrawing from heroin.
The deputy informed the man that if he did not consent to go to the hospital, he would be involuntarily committed because of his suicidal statements.
The man then laid down on the stretcher in the ambulance.
The firefighter was starting an intravenous line, when, according to the report, the male pulled the line out of his arm, causing blood to hit the firefighter’s face and eyes.
The man then allegedly pointed the contaminated end of the catheter ‘like a knife? toward the deputy and ran towards him in an attempt to exit the ambulance.
According to the report, the deputy was able to subdue the man.
Firefighters supplied the deputy with sanitizing wipes when he noticed blood on his hands from securing the subject.
The man was taken to the emergency room at POH Regional Medical Center without incident.
According to the sheriff’s report, the man told the deputy he knew he had hepatitis.
During a January 2010 medical run to his home, the man reportedly told Oxford EMS personnel he had hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is spread by blood-to-blood contact.
An arrest warrant was requested for the alleged felonious assault on the firefighter and for resisting and obstructing when the man allegedly charged at the deputy while holding the catheter.