42 Quikclot Kits To Aid With Trauma Rolled Out To Howard County Police Force

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Police Department has purchased 42 new Quikclot kits designed to help police officers implement bleeding control with special blood-clotting gauzed designed to quickly stop bleeding from trauma. The police department has applied for grant funding to help fund enough kits for every officer to have one. School resource officers also will have them.

“Howard County is committed to providing the best tools and resources to keep our community safe and save lives,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “Our police officers encounter emergencies and accidents every day, and these Quikclot kits will provide officers with another life-saving tool to ensure the best possible outcome for someone experiencing life-threatening bleeding.”

The kits are already being used by the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue personnel and are readily available alongside automated external defibrillators in public places like schools and community centers. Howard County first responders use Stop the Bleed training and these kits to deliver life-saving care to victims of car crashes, falls, industrial and recreational accidents, and other traumas.

"By making this technology readily available to officers, we can help people with serious injuries in the first few moments of arriving on a scene," Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said. "Whether a violent incident like a shooting, or a tragedy like a car crash, bleeding control can make a major difference in those first precious few minutes."

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death for people age 45 and younger. Hemorrhage or severe bleeding represents the single biggest cause of preventable death within trauma patients.