Newton-Wellesley Hospital Donates Tourniquets to Newton Police

NEWTON, MA – Newton-Wellesley Hospital gifted 150 Combat Application Tourniquets to the Newton Police Department Tuesday to be used for officer safety and traumatic injuries.

The CATs were funded by the Department of Homeland Security's ASPR HPP grant, which is used to improve hospital preparedness and response in emergency situations.

Charlotte Roy, safety officer and Emergency Management Coordinator at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said the Newton Police Department has supported the hospital in its training and preparedness efforts.

"As the world we live in is constantly changing, so must our level of preparedness," Roy told Patch. "This is our way to help the community, help the police and give something back a little bit to the city."

According to Roy, the CATs are the standard in hemorrhage control and are more effective in stopping a patient's bleeding prior to arrival at the hospital.

"For example, if a police officer was injured they could apply the tourniquet with one hand," Roy said. "It's also easier to tighten them."

The tourniquets cover more surface area, as opposed to a belt or another form of makeshift tourniquet, she added.

The Newton Police Department thanked the hospital for its gift in a tweet Wednesday:

Photo courtesy of Newton-Wellesley Hospital