NCJ Number
50613
Journal
MARYLAND STATE FOP JOURNAL Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 51,53-55
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
FIRST AID EQUIPMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO MAY HAVE TO STABILIZE VICTIMS SUFFERING FROM FRACTURES, POISON, RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES, AND SPINAL INJURIES, MUST BE SUITABLE FOR OFFICERS WHO USE IT ONLY SPORADICALLY.
Abstract
BECAUSE THE ROLE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN TRAUMA SITUATIONS IS NOT THE FOCUS OF THEIR DUTIES, FIRST AID KITS SHOULD BE SIMPLE TO USE. BASIC KITS (BANDAGES, ETC.) ARE STANDARD. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES MORE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT. POLICE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS WIDELY SUPPORT THE CARRYING OF OXYGEN TANKS IN ALL POLICE VEHICLES. OXYGEN IS OF EXTREME VALUE IN CASES OF HEART SEIZURE, STROKE, OR CARDIOVASCULAR ACCIDENT. MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT DO HAVE OXYGEN CAPABILITY HAVE ALSO PURCHASED INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE BREATHING UNITS, BUT THESE ARE NOT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR USE BY ANYONE WITHOUT ADVANCED TRAINING. AIRSPLINTS HAVE NOT GAINED WIDE ACCEPTANCE AMONG POLICE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE USED ALMOST UNIVERSALLY IN PROFESSIONAL RESCUE WORK. AIRSPLINTS ARE MADE OF CLEAR PLASTIC AND ARE INFLATED BY AN OFFICER'S BREATH UNTIL THEY HAVE BALLOONED AROUND AN INJURED ARM OR LEG, IMMOBILIZING THE FRACTURED PART AS WELL AS CONVENTIONAL WOODEN SPLITS, WITH MANY ADVANTAGES. TRACTION SPLINTS FOR LEG INJURIES, KNOWN AS THOMAS SPLINTS, INSTANTLY AND GREATLY REDUCE THE PAIN OF FRACTURE, LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER DAMAGE DUE TO BROKEN BONE ENDS GRATING AGAINST EACH OTHER, GENERALLY HELP TO PREVENT SHOCK, AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HEMORRHAGE FROM A COMPOUND FRACTURE. SERVICEABLE UNITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $20, ALTHOUGH BETTER ONES MAY COST ABOUT $120. SYRUP OF IPECAC, A SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSES INSTANT VOMITING UPON INGESTION, SHOULD BE STANDARD IN ALL POLICE UNITS. TYPES OF POISONING WHERE VOMITING SHOULD NOT BE INDUCED ARE NOTED. SPINEBOARDS ARE USEFUL IN IMMOBILIZING THE SPINE AND HEAD AND ARE EASILY CARRIED. IT IS FELT THAT THE UPGRADING OF POLICE OFFICERS' ABILITY TO COPE WITH POTENTIALLY LETHAL INJURIES IS ESSENTIAL. PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)