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CCPD receives life-saving equipment from Floyd County Public Health

  • Officer Bryce Bilharz demonstrates how to put a tourniquet on Lieutenant Brad Worrall at the Charles City Police Department on Monday. Floyd County Public Health recently donated bleeding control kits to the department. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • An AED (automatic external defibrillator) that is part of the Charles City Police Department's life-saving equipment. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Various life-saving equipment that is in included in Charles City Police officer's squad cars in an effort to save lives. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Seconds can be vital in saving the life of a bleeding victim.

The Charles City Police Department officers are now even more prepared should a situation arise that may warrant serious medical attention during an emergency.

Gail Arjes, a nurse/administrator for Floyd County Public Health, recently presented bleeding control kits to the CCPD. A grant received by Public Health allows every officer to have a kit in his squad car to help himself if wounded, or to render assistance to anyone in the community who may need life-saving measures.

“We’re very appreciative,” said Charles City Police Chief Hugh Anderson.

The kits includes supplies like trauma shears, a CAT (combat application tourniquet), gauze wrap, compression gauze and blood coagulant or quick clot — all in a vacuum-sealed bag. Gloves and other items used to stop excessive bleeding are also included.

“This is keeping the blood in your body until you can get other people there to assist,” said Officer Bryce Bilharz. “Time’s critical. If you hit an artery, you’re seconds from losing your life.”

Bilharz is also a nationally certified EMT (emergency medical technician). He said the bleeding kit is designed for major life-threatening events like an active-shooter scenario. But it can also come in handy in any number of situations where help is not readily available and the clock is ticking to stop somebody from bleeding out, possibly saving their life.

“It’s a tourniquet that people are able to put on themselves — one handed — if they are in a situation,” said Bilharz. “If we are on a stop and something hits the fan, we’re able to put it on by ourselves until another officer or assisting officer gets there.”

Anderson said the use of the kits became prevalent in the military when the government’s effort to fight the war on terrorism began 15 years ago.

“So now we’re going to have every officer carrying a tourniquet on them,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s department recently purchased new medical bags that will include the bleeding control kits.

“That will all be in the same bag in the same spot in every squad car. So if something does go down we all know where it’s at,” said Bilharz.

The kits have been added to other life-saving equipment in each squad car like first aid supplies, AEDs (automatic external defibrillators), CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) masks and Narcan dispensers to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.

The defibrillators are very easy to use, Bilharz said. “It basically explains what to do step-by-step throughout the call.”

Earlier this month, a Fort Dodge police officer was exposed to the highly-dangerous drug Fentanyl after a traffic stop. After feeling dizzy, he called in medics who found him “lethargic and unresponsive.” EMTs on the scene used Narcan to save his life.

“We’ve been carrying that in our squad cars before that even happened,” said Bilharz.

CCPD Lieutenant Brad Worrall said Narcan has to be kept from exposure to extremely cold temperatures.

“Something you’ve never think of having in our first aid bag is a razor,” said Anderson.

Bilharz said a razor can be used to shave chest hair so pads on a defibrillator can stick to the skin better.

“It’s actually really good equipment that we’ve been given,” said Bilharz. “We’re pretty fortunate to have the medical equipment that we have in our squad cars.”

Bilharz said officers are trained on basic life-saving measures at the police academy. He also said officers on the force will conduct CPR training next month.

 

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