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New Training Helps State Troopers Save Lives

Defense Imagery Management Operations Center
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U.S. Department of Defense
Tourniquets and gauze can help to stop severe bleeding quickly.
In the military, soldiers are expected to treat massive bleeding right away.

Connecticut state troopers say new training they've received on how to prevent death by controlling early bleeding from major injuries has helped to save lives.

Last year in Hartford, there were discussions between medical experts, law enforcement, fire and rescue and the military on ways to improve survival rates from active shooter events. This followed the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and the Boston Marathon bombings. The conversations led to new guidelines for troopers and officers.

Law enforcement in Connecticut and nationwide are now learning how to use tourniquets and gauze to stop severe bleeding quickly. It's based on a system used in the military, where soldiers have buddies. Each solider carries a tourniquet and hemostatic dressing. They're expected to treat massive bleeding right away. The results in Iraq and Afghanistan were significant. Mortality rates from severe bleeding dropped from 7.2 to 2.8 percent. 

Recently, three Connecticut troopers who responded to a suicide attempt in Lisbon received awards for using a tourniquet to save a woman's life. 

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Here and Now; and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.