News and Announcements :: June 13, 2008
Tucson Police Foundation Purchases QuikClots for TPD
New QuikClot® 1st Response™ Units Will Allow TPD Officers to Stop Life-Threatening Bleeding When First on the Scene —
Tucson, Arizona, June 13, 2008 – Never before has safety been such a hallmark issue among the nation's cities and towns. The Tucson Police Foundation announced the purchase of approximately 700 QuikClot® 1st Response™ units. These units were presented to the Tucson Police Department today at a ceremony at TPD Headquarters. Every TPD officer working the streets of Tucson will receive one. The distribution of these units will be coordinated by TPD following the appropriate training. It is believed that TPD will be the only police force in Arizona and New Mexico where all street officers will be provided with these life-saving resources.
QuikClot 1st Response™ is the latest Z-Medica product for first responders. It is the same proven technology developed for the military, packaged for convenient use by first responders, to help save lives right at the scene of accidents, crimes, fires and other emergencies. TPD officers will be trained to use QuikClot® to save a severely injured colleague or civilian in emergency situations involving severe, traumatic blood loss when medical assistance is not yet on scene, and the potential for loss of life is eminent.
QuikClot 1st Response™ is easy to use. Just rip open a packet, pack the self-contained sponge into the wound and the bleeding stops rapidly. The sponges will conform to the shape of the wound. QuikClot 1st Response™ is easily removed in the hospital setting. The use of QuikClot 1st Response™ can dramatically reduce the bleeding and keep people alive long enough until the paramedics arrive and transport the patient to the hospital for definitive care.
Jerry Schuchardt, Tucson Police Foundation Board Chairman said "with recent events, the Mother's Day assaults on two officers, and the death of Officer Hite, we are all keenly aware that accidents and random acts of violence will unfortunately occur. By having immediate access to this product, the Tucson Police Foundation is making a dramatic step to save lives of both TPD officers and our citizens in Tucson. The gift of the QuikClot reaffirms the commitment of the Tucson Police Foundation to make a difference in our community, and provide a safer environment to the fine men and women of TPD who risk their lives every day to keep us safe."
One police force that uses QuikClots is the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff's Office (HCSO). Sheriff David Gee of HCSO said "four years ago, we made a sound decision to equip our personnel with QuikClot®, one that has already paid off in terms of a number of lives saved. If paramedics can't get to the scene fast enough, our deputies now have the capability of stopping even severe bleeding to save a life. A recent incident where our deputy's life was saved by QuikClot® is the best example of why we remain committed to QuikClot® as an important tool for preserving the safety of our officers and all the civilians we serve."
The Tucson Police Foundation, founded in 2003, is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering public safety through community building, education, and outreach. In concert with the Tucson Police Department, the foundation works with a range of community safety advocates to develop and implement public safety and crime prevention programs. While the city budget provides the necessary resources to fund the operations of the Tucson Police Department, a number of important community programs have been threatened or cut due to lack of funding. The foundation was created as a catalyst in responding to this threat, so that no innovative program would be left behind. Private donations will be accepted to support these numerous projects. For more information, go to www.tucsonpolicefoundation.org.
CONTACT:
Mike Feder
Executive Director
Tucson Police Foundation
Cell – (520) 954-8803
Email - feder1616@yahoo.com
We encourage all citizens to join our Thank A Cop campaign by donating towards this type of life saving equipment for officers, as well as other capital equipment needs that will go directly to the police officers that work in our community. All donations can be sent to the Tucson Police Foundation at 3900 E. Timrod St., Suite 7, Tucson, AZ 85711. The Tucson Police Foundation is a non-profit 501-c-3, so all donations are tax deductible.