Published: Fri, 03/25/2016 - 10:10am
DENVER - Colorado Attorney General Cynthia H. Coffman is announcing today the distribution of more than two thousand individually packaged trauma kits to Colorado law enforcement throughout our state. The Individual Trauma Aid Kits (ITAK) will enable law enforcement to help save their own lives if seriously injured or the life of another until lifesaving treatment can be found.
"The life safety threat to today\'s law enforcement officer is a great concern to me. I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure those who risk their lives for all of us, have the necessary lifesaving tools and training," said Attorney General Coffman. "Following a life-threatening injury, when time matters and every second counts, having the basic equipment to sustain life until further medical treatment can be found is essential."
Each kit includes combat application tourniquets which have been used by the U.S. Army since 2005. High grade tourniquets have grown in popularity among trauma experts because they can be self-applied by those experiencing life-threatening injuries. In just the last few years, at least nine Colorado law enforcement lives have been saved due to the availability and correct use of tourniquets.
Countless lives of suspects and victims of serious injuries will also be saved because of the availability of these trauma kits in the hands of law enforcement.
Each individual trauma kit is packaged in a vacuum sealed bag and includes:
- CAT windlass tourniquet
- Klever Kutter disposable safety cutter
- Primed flat compressed gauze pack
- NuStat tactical 2 x 36 hemostatic dressing
- Mini compression bandage
- Pair of nitrite gloves
"These trauma kits will help give seriously wounded law enforcement personnel additional time to receive treatment. For them, a few essential first aid supplies can be the difference between life and death. And for many agencies, trauma kits have been cost prohibitive," said Attorney General Coffman. "Every life saved because emergency aid could be provided quickly and effectively means these trauma kits have more than paid for themselves."