Putnamville troopers receive potentially lifesaving device

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

PUTNAMVILLE -- Indiana State Police troopers and detectives at the Putnamville Post have received a small, potentially lifesaving device, which each officer will now carry.

The device is known as a Combat Application Tourniquet.

Master Trooper Chris Harcourt (left) receives a tourniquet applied by Master Trooper Chip McKee during the practical application portion of the training for Indiana State Police personnel.

All enforcement personnel working out of the Putnamville Post received a two-hour block of academic and practical instruction on the use of the tourniquet on Tuesday, April 21.

In recent history and on more than one occasion, ISP troopers have been immediately engaged in lifesaving measures at various traumatic events around the state that required the use of a tourniquet to save victims' lives.

During those times, troopers improvised tourniquets from materials the officers were carrying or from materials found at the scene. The improvised tourniquets were constructed and successfully applied by the troopers, victims survived their injuries and those troopers were awarded by the department for their lifesaving actions.

Acting upon the recent events involving tourniquets, Indiana State Police officials felt the need to supply every officer with the ability to quickly apply and use a professionally made tourniquet.

The CAT tourniquets allow one- or two-handed use and can be applied in 30 seconds or less to stop rapid blood loss from any extremity.

In the very near future, every ISP district around the state will have been instructed and supplied with the CATs (Combat Application Tourniquet).

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