Law enforcers never know what they might encounter on an emergency call. That’s why preparing for a worst-case scenario is so critical.
This month, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Probation and Parole officers are getting a life-saving lesson.
“Absolutely, this is lifesaving,” said ODOC training officer Paul Bailey. “We certainly hope none of our officers have to use this. But if they do, they now have the training and equipment.”
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety leads the course. Law Enforcement First Response (LEFR) is an instructional, hands-on seminar teaching immediate life-saving severe bleeding control.
This valuable training, coupled with the necessary equipment, saves lives when seconds count.
“It’s very nice to have in trauma situations,” Active Threat Response Program Manager Marc Crawford said. ‘We’ve got mere moments to stop the bleeding and save someone’s life. The sooner we can get a tourniquet on and stop an arterial bleed, the better chance we will have to save that person.”
DPS provided free medical kits through a federal grant to every Probation and Parole officer.
“The Department of Public Safety is providing each of our officers with their own tourniquet and first aid kit,” Chief Administrator of Community Corrections James Rudek said. “It’s a great partnership with DPS. We really appreciate them.”
More than 8,000 law enforcers across Oklahoma have taken this essential basic training. Eight officers and countless civilian lives have been saved as a result.
To date, 238 tourniquets and 91 first aid kits for team use have been issued to attending probation and parole officers statewide.
