‘Difference between life and death’
Local hospital donates tourniquets for officers to use in the field
CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital- Atlanta recently provided some first aid training to local law enforcement officials in conjunction with an appreciation lunch during National Police Week. St. Michael donated 30 combat application tourniquets for use in the field by officers who are often the first on the scene of an accident or traumatic event.
“It’s not something you use often but it is something that’s important to know how to use,” said Micah Johnson, director of nursing at St. Michael-Atlanta.
Nicole Fant, trauma coordinator at St. Michael-Atlanta and Debbie Hughes, a clinical educator, provided the one-onone training to law enforcement officers who attended the event, demonstrating how to use the tourniquets in a short refresher session.
“These can help with uncontrolled bleeding on the extremities. It should stop the bleeding by constricting the blood vessels. If the first one doesn’t stop the bleeding then you need to find another way to make a tourniquet. You could use a belt or something else,” Fant said. “Many law enforcement officers already carry tourniquets so we’re hoping to supply these to officers that don’t already have them.”
“The number one cause of death in traumatic injury cases is hemorrhaging,” Fant said.
“Studies have shown combat application tourniquets are effective tools in controlling severe blood loss from the extremities and when properly applied can mean the difference between life and death. Because law enforcement are often the first ones to appear at the scene of an accident or traumatic injury, their ability to stop significant bleeding is vital.”
Francine Francis, director of communications for St. Michael said it’s a great collaboration between the hospital and law enforcement officers.
“It’s a great way to work together for the benefit of the community,” Francis said. “We are happy to do anything we can to help prepare them to be first responders on the scene. Hopefully they don’t have to use this too much but it does enhance their ability to manage the patient.”
“It’s a team effort to manage traumatic injuries. This event is about two things—thanking law enforcement officers for what they do every day and providing additional education. Even if they’ve had some training before this is a reminder course on how to do this. When you don’t do things often, and hopefully they don’t have to, it’s good to be reminded.”
Thomas McKinney, administrator of St. Michael-Atlanta emphasized the role police officers have in the continuum of care for trauma patients.
“Everything we do starts with you guys. You guys are out there where the rubber meets the road and you can save those minutes that mean the world to patients,” McKinney said.
“And within our trauma designation a big portion of that is making sure we’re connecting the dots out in the field.”
Larry Rowe, Cass County sheriff, went through the refresher course on tourniquet use.
“I’ve never had to use one in the field thank goodness, but I think this training is very helpful. My deputies do run into it sometimes. It’s a rural county. Hopefully they’ll never need it, but if they do it may save a life or a limb,” Rowe said.