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Category Archives: Medical
Next Generation CAT Tourniquet
North American Rescue is updating their popular Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT). The graphic above displays the new features. A strengthened windlass rod, clip, and strap address the issue of high torque when the unit is applied correctly. As we found during TCCC training earlier in the year, dual routing of the strap through the buckle is better, but a little difficult with one hand since the strap has trouble sliding. The new single routed buckle with teeth should help preloading and administering the CAT in all conditions. No word on release date or price yet. Randall
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street, SWAT, Uncategorized
Tagged CAT tourniquet, North American Rescue
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Hydrapak’s Durable First Wave Tactical Reservoir
I hate hydration bladders. There I’ve said it. You know you do, too. Not that they aren’t a great way to haul around water when tucked inside a useful shoulder-mounted system. It’s just that they are fragile, difficult to fill, and such a pain in the ass to properly clean and dry. Who wants a mouth full of germy algae? But I think you are going to really like the Hydrapak First Wave Tactical Reservoir. Time and again, I’ve watched water pouring down a SWAT guy’s back and legs after something punctured his hydration bladder. Yeah, in training it is comical, but on a live call-out, it is serious. Other … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Misc., SWAT, Tactical Bags
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Tourniquets for Police Patrol
There was an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg last week. In the exchange of gunfire, an officer was hit in the leg by a bullet from the suspect’s pistol. Unfortunately, the officer’s Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T®) was in his cruiser. He attempted to fashion a field-expedient tourniquet from a garden hose to help staunch the flow of blood. I am glad to report that he survived. The suspect did not. This shooting caused SPPD to examine their issuance of the C-A-T tourniquet. Some officers complained that the C-A-T is difficult to carry on a crowded gun belt. SPPD Chief Tony Holloway, in turn, approved the purchase of … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street
Tagged Officer Safety, Tourniquet for Police
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Off Duty First Aid Necessities
I was out on a hiking trail in California earlier in the day. Yes, I am on vacation. It occurred to me that there was something noticeably different about my fellow hikers and me. Could it have to do with the large backpack that was absent on all but myself? I had about six more miles to ponder this. As law enforcement officers, we are trained in first responder medicine, which nowadays means we also learn about tactical combat casualty care or TCCC. When I was preparing for this trip of day-long hikes, I included medical gear. Not just for myself and my spouse, but in the event we ran … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, Medical, Off Duty, Tactical Bags
4 Comments
Flakka–A Deadly New Designer Drug Rises in Florida
South Florida is experiencing a spike in violent and unpredictable behaviors exhibited by people using the relatively new synthetic designer drug known as flakka. A “bath salt”-style mixture, flakka can be smoked, vaped, snorted, injected, or swallowed. It is classified as a synthetic cathinone under the chemical name alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or alpha-PVP. Flakka, known as “gravel” in other parts of the country because of its coarse crystalline appearance, is highly addictive and can cause dangerous psychotic episodes. It costs about one quarter that of methamphetamine, but seems to have worse short term effects on its users. Since the beginning of this year, a naked and armed flakka user held police at … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety
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An Officer’s Opinion of Florida Amendment 2–Medical Marijuana
With the upcoming general election looming, I thought I would weigh in on 2014 Florida Constitutional Amendment 2, Use of Marijuana Under Certain Medical Conditions, from a law enforcement officer’s perspective. I have read the full language of the amendment, as well as the ballot language. They are included at the end of the article if you wish to peruse them. Frankly, I am alarmed that under Article X, Section 29 (a) Public Policy sections (1), (2), and (3), all patients, personal caregivers, physicians, and marijuana treatment centers will be free from any criminal or civil liability under Florida law as it relates to the amendment. Of the seventeen states … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Misc., Politics
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R.A.T.S. Tourniquet
The Rapid Application Tourniquet System (R.A.T.S.) is another style of extremity hemorrhage control marketed to soldiers and police officers. It consists of a 1/2″ flat bungee cord and aluminum cleat. The instructions below are pretty self explanatory.
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street
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Tactical Medical Solutions Uniformed Medical Kit
Tactical Medical Solutions, Inc. provides products and training resources for both combat and tactical medical applications. Their Uniformed Medical Kit allows a police officer to carry vital medical supplies beneath his or her uniform shirt. The pouch attaches with hook side Velcro™ to the loop field on the adjustable strap area of concealed body armor. More loop material on the front of the UMK is available for the strap ends to affix. Tactical Medical Solutions gives the following benefits to the UMK: Central placement provides the officer instant, ambidextrous access to
Posted in Medical, Misc., Officer Down, Officer Safety, Protective Armor
Tagged Officer Safety
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New Celox RAPID Hemostatic Gauzes
As I was finishing a half lap of SWAT Round-Up International’s vendor area, I had spied my old friend, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy. My friend introduced me to Dr. William Brooks at the Advanced Trauma Specialties display. Dr. Brooks was demonstrating some new Celox RAPID hemostatic gauzes. The Celox RAPID gauzes come in Z-folded 3″ X 5′ and 1″ X 5′ lengths, the latter of which is called Celox RAPID Ribbon gauze. Celox granules are laminated to the high density gauze material to provide easy packing into a wound for quick bleeding control. Celox is made with Chito-R™ (chitosan from shrimp shells) that binds to red blood … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street, Technology
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Eleven 10 Gear C.A.T. and SOF-T Tourniquet Holsters
I saw one of our Street Crimes Unit guys wearing this Kydex holster on his duty belt. It caught my eye, as I recognized the C.A.T. tourniquet it held. I inquired where he had purchased it and he sent me a link to Eleven 10 Gear. Eleven Ten makes self-aid/buddy-aid med gear designed for the Military, SWAT, and street LEO’s. The company was founded by two operators, one a Recon Marine and the other a SWAT officer, so they have both arenas covered. Eleven Ten’s gear is proudly Made in the USA. Below is their description of the C.A.T. holster. This small Kydex law enforcement / military tourniquet case can … Continue reading
Surviving to Twenty-Five
Several months ago, I crested the 25-year mark as a sworn police officer. More recently, I turned 50. I had some thoughts about surviving a law enforcement career for a quarter of a century that I would like to share. I will get this one out of the way right off. Continue your officer safety training and mindset throughout your whole career, regardless of your job description. Everything else on which I will comment has no bearing if you do not live to fight another day. Always be aware of your surroundings and think tactically on and off duty. What would I do if X, Y, or Z happened right … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Medical, Misc., Off Duty, Officer Safety
Tagged Officer Safety, Surviving Law Enforcement, Surviving to Twenty-Five
4 Comments
T.U.C.Rig — Tactical Under Carry for Equipment
A West Central Florida police officer/SWAT member has come up with a simple carry method for ancillary equipment with external clips or sheaths. She calls it the T.U.C.Rig for Tactical Under Carry Rig. Consisting of a nylon strap, single buckle, and hook and loop closure, it can secure items that have clips, such as knives and flashlights. It can also be threaded through pouches with belt loops or MOLLE attachments. The T.U.C.Rig mounts on the ankle, arm, or even on body armor vest straps. For the last two months, I have been using the T.U.C.Rig to tote my C.A.T. Tourniquet while on shift. I attach the hook and loop of … Continue reading
Emergency Medical Conditions and the Law Enforcement Response
We had two officers injured in a fight this week with a person refusing medical treatment at a local hospital. The situation highlighted what can be a gray area for the police officer, which is the question of when to provide hands on assistance in the involuntary detainment of medical patients. In debriefing the troops, we found that there was confusion with some of the officers over an “incapacitated person” verses a Baker Act when it comes to dealing with uncooperative patients–either on the street or at a hospital facility. From the Department of Children and Families legal information of Emergency Medical Conditions: “Chapter 401.455, F.S. governs situations when an … Continue reading
New Report by American Heart Association Zaps TASER International
A new report released on-line by the American Heart Association magazine Circulation associates sudden cardiac arrest and death with the application of an electronic control device (ECD), more specifically a TASER International model X26. Dr. Douglas P. Zipes, a cardiologist at the Indiana School of Medicine, conducted the study, which was peer reviewed for publication. Zipes, coincidently has been paid over a half million dollars to testify as an expert witness against the police and TASER, according to TASER International. Zipes has conceded he is paid $1200.00 per hour to testify as a witness against ECD’s, but he said that gave him no incentive to do the research. Zipes studied … Continue reading
Morphix Technologies Chameleon Chemical Detector Review
Morphix Technologies has released a seven minute training video which gives some simple statistics and dangers about Meth Labs. The video also addresses Morphix’s Chameleon Chemical Detector, one of their products for detecting hazardous chemicals by first responders. I got my hands on a Chameleon kit for testing in October. The Morphix Chameleon is a chemical detection unit that is worn on the forearm or attached by Velcro to the uniform of a first responder. The purpose of the kit is to provide an officer, firefighter, or soldier with immediate visual identification of the presence of hazardous gases. A passive detector, the Chameleon has ten windows, called cassettes, which change … Continue reading