Atlanta Police Department: The Atlanta Police Department's Tourniquet Initiative Is Saving Lives

Atlanta GA

25 June, 2021

4:06 PM

Description

Press release from the Atlanta Police Department: 06/25/2021 In 2016, the Atlanta Police Department began training officers in tactical emergency medical care, with the desire to better prepare officers to treat anyone significantly injured, including themselves, other officers or suspects. The training began with the Tactical Field Officer program and in 2017, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Foundation,  the department was able to issue tourniquets to all officers. Research has shown early medical care to stop bleeding, including the use of a tourniquet, can mean the difference between life and death, in some cases. Part of our training includes tourniquet application during mass casualty incidents and situations where wounded cannot be moved for treatment due to an on-going threat, like an active shooter situation. Fortunately, the majority of the situations we face are not mass casualty incidents.   We began tracking tourniquet usage in 2017 and we have seen the numbers more than double each year. Tourniquets have been utilized a total of 297 times throughout the city and in all but 9 instances the injured party survived.  The majority of these cases are aggravated assault incidents where a victim was shot. One incident includes an officer involved shooting where an APD lieutenant exchanged gunfire with a carjacking suspect after the suspect led the lieutenant on a pursuit, crashed his stolen car and began firing at him. The lieutenant returned fire, striking the suspect and responding officers immediately began rendering aid to the carjacking suspect. Officers applied a tourniquet to the man's leg and he survived his injuries.   Providing medical treatment to victims of crimes is certainly important, but providing care to someone who, moments earlier, was trying to harm you, a coworker or an innocent person could be challenging for many. However, we have a duty to provide care to anyone in need, regardless of their previous actions and we understand how important this is. This valuable tool, along with the professional care provided by our partners with Atlanta Fire Rescue, Grady EMS and AMR DeKalb, is making a difference. We are proud of the work our officers are doing and we feel our initiative with tourniquets is an important piece of our public safety plan.   Tourniquet Video   Major Senzer Discusses Tourniquet Program       Can't see the table below? Click here to view the original story.                                                         This press release was produced by the Atlanta Police Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.