More than two dozen tourniquets donated by the Bethel Township Fire Department were recently put into commission, being used by the men and women of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to stop bleeding and potentially save lives when no other first responders are present.

30 Combat-Applied-Tourniquets were donated to the sheriff’s department in March of 2015, a life-saving gift from Chief Jacob King and the Bethel Township Firefighters’ Association of Clark County. King initially chose the sheriff’s office as the recipient of the tourniquets so that deputies could use them to stop heavy bleeding in victims if they arrived at the scene of an accident before medics, which could buy the victim precious time and even prevent them from dying. He also provided one for Donnelsville Chief of Police Doug Frank.

Sergeant Brad Barnhart of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said his deputies started receiving the tourniquets two weeks ago, and each of them completed a one-hour training course before adding the item to their kits. Barnhart said the tourniquets were issued only to road deputies, but one was also placed with the jail sergeant, jail nurses, and in the firing range medical bag for any emergencies at those locations. The sheriff’s office also purchased 20 additional tourniquets so that they could be more thoroughly distributed to each deputy.

Just days after being issued to the road patrol, a deputy found it necessary to use one of the new tourniquets during a motorcycle accident on North Hampton Road.

“A few days after they were issued, a sergeant used one at the scene of a motorcycle accident…where a person had an amputated finger,” Barnhart explained. “There was severe bleeding present so he applied this to stop the bleeding.”

He explained that tourniquets have long been considered a last-resort tool to be used in instances of traumatic injury, but stressed that they should instead be regarded as a first choice for serious bleeding.

“Through research and extensive tourniquet use in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, it is now well established that there is little risk to applying a tourniquet,” Barnhart explained. “Old myths that state a tourniquet will cause a loss of limb are simply that—just myths—if used as trained.”

Barnhart said a tourniquet applied for more than six hours could start to jeopardize a limb, but noted that deputies would likely never be faced with that situation, as it is more of a concern “in remote combat theaters or backcountry accidents,” Barnhart said.

The use of tourniquets by members of law enforcement is becoming more widespread, Barnhart said, adding that numerous officers have reported using them to save their own life, the life of a fellow officer, or that of a private citizen. Last March, as Chief King presented the tourniquets to the sheriff’s department, he mentioned the instance of a female deputy somewhere out west who had used her newly-issued tourniquet to save her own life after a routine traffic stop turned violent when the suspect began firing at her. The officer took cover behind her cruiser after being hit in the leg, applied the tourniquet herself, and then resumed firing back at the suspect.

King said donations were obtained from P&R Communications, Honeywell First Responder Products, and Midwest Survival Supplies to assist the Bethel Township Firefighters’ Association in purchasing the tourniquets for law enforcement officers.

“I felt the officers needed them to save another officer’s life, or a community member, as they are always on patrol and could arrive before EMS, and this device could save a life,” King said, adding that the goal was to equip them with simple yet quick and efficient means of saving lives. “So I thought this is an easy item to carry that could save a life, and if we save one life, the almost $3,000 it cost was worth it.”

Barnhart agreed, saying: “Tourniquets are a vital tool in an officer’s tool kit.”

“We are encouraging officers to wear them on their duty belt. This is desired since loss of life can occur within two minutes after receiving a traumatic injury that severs a major artery. Deputies entering the scene of an active shooter can also prevent the loss of human life by occlusion of major arterial bleeding in victims. The deputy is often the first to be in a position to apply life savings measures in active shooter situations,” he said.