Every Morgan Hill Police officer now has the ability to render enhanced life-saving medical aid to critically injured crime, traffic accident and natural disaster victims through the deployment of newly acquired trauma medical bags, according to Sgt. Bill Norman.
The trauma kits, developed by emergency response training provider First 5 Minutes, are far more equipped to deal with significant traumatic injuries than the traditional bandages and gauze found in most first-aid kits, Norman explained. The trauma bags’ contents provide essential dressings to slow or stop bleeding of traumatic injuries from gunshots or stabbings.
The trauma kits also provide the necessary tools to assist with obstructed airways, fractured bones and burns, Norman said.
MHPD officers receive annual medical training that includes basic life support and CPR, police said.
“Our quick response to in-progress calls of violence means that we can save lives through the use of these tools,” Norman said. “The trauma dressings will allow our officers to help stop blood loss, which is critical to saving a life.”
The trauma bags are not intended to supplement existing medical services, but to augment them in the event of a mass casualty incident or to provide immediate care in situations where the scene is too volatile for medical professionals to enter, police said. The goal of the program is to work directly with fire and EMS personnel to provide timely public safety services to residents.
The trauma bag program was coordinated by Norman and funded entirely by the Morgan Hill Community Law Enforcement Foundation, a local nonprofit that raises funds to supplement local public safety services.
For more information about CLEF, visit their website at www.morganhillclef.org.
