Should you prone out a cooperative arrestee?

Should you prone out a cooperative arrestee?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Not allowed
• D. It depends

Answer: (B)

When someone is cooperative, the safest and most effective approach is to control the situation without putting them in a position that can compromise breathing. Placing a cooperative arrestee prone—face down—can restrict chest expansion and airway access, increasing the risk of positional asphyxia, especially if the person becomes distressed or struggles even slightly. Since cooperation indicates they are not resisting, you don’t need to use a prone position to gain compliance. The proper method is to secure the arrestee in a standing or seated position with hands cuffed behind the back, maintain clear verbal commands, and monitor their breathing and condition during transport. Other options imply using a more restrictive or situationally dependent approach than necessary. But with a cooperative arrestee, you don’t adopt the prone position—the emphasis is on safety, minimal force, and quick, calm control.

When someone is cooperative, the safest and most effective approach is to control the situation without putting them in a position that can compromise breathing. Placing a cooperative arrestee prone—face down—can restrict chest expansion and airway access, increasing the risk of positional asphyxia, especially if the person becomes distressed or struggles even slightly. Since cooperation indicates they are not resisting, you don’t need to use a prone position to gain compliance. The proper method is to secure the arrestee in a standing or seated position with hands cuffed behind the back, maintain clear verbal commands, and monitor their breathing and condition during transport.

Other options imply using a more restrictive or situationally dependent approach than necessary. But with a cooperative arrestee, you don’t adopt the prone position—the emphasis is on safety, minimal force, and quick, calm control.