Local law enforcement officers received a little support from a local business that invited the public to help. Through the sale of a special fundraising t-shirt, multiple agencies were able to purchase first aid supplies for officers to carry on their person in case of an emergency situation.
These supplies included tourniquets, ankle/belt holders for tourniquets, chest seal patches, hemostatic gauze, regular gauze and general first aid kits for officers to carry on their person and in their vehicles. According to Brownwood Chief of Police Terry Nichols, simple supplies can sometimes be the difference between life and death in cases of shootings, car wrecks and other emergency situations.
“You can bleed to death in a matter of minutes,” said Nichols. “We learned from the military about how valuable these things are. We can’t thank you guys enough for helping us out.”
Nichols stated that with the funds raised, a variety of medical items were purchased according to what each agency needed. Every officer in the county will now have a tourniquet to carry on their person. Holders for the tourniquets were also purchased. These funds provided first aid kits for the officers’ cars and belts. Brown County Sheriff’s Office needed more general supplies as many of their officers’ supplies were damaged as they responded to a recent hostage situation in Blanket during the pouring rain and a large quantity of their supplies were soaked with water and ruined.
Police officers are typically the first on the scene of vehicle accidents and other incidents involving seriously injured citizens. These medical supplies will allow law enforcement first responders to be able to treat some of the immediate life-threatening injuries to victims and/or treat themselves when injured before an ambulance arrives.
These simple tools can save a life, Nichols explained. Civilians can also save lives with these tourniquets, they are so simple to use, it doesn’t require a lot of training to use.
“This stuff is designed for officers to carry on their person, if they go into a school or a wreck, and someone is bleeding profusely, officers can help,” said Nichols. “Officers know how to save a life, but it is hard to do if you don’t have the tools on your person.”
Chief Nichols, Early Chief of Police David Mercer, Bangs Chief of Police Jorge Camarillo, Brown County Sheriff George Caldwell and BCSO Chief Deputy Vance Hill all expressed their gratitude to Willie’s T’s and the community.
“We want to thank you for reaching out to the community to help support us and getting us the supplies we needed,” said Hill.
Willie’s T’s Owner Will Carrier stated, “It was a huge (community) response, I just hope you guys recognize that everybody supports you. We hope you never have to use them but if you do, you’re supplied and ready.”
Pictured above are Brownwood Chief of Police Terry Nichols, Brown County Sheriff George Caldwell, Rowonna McNeeley and Will Carrier of Willie’s T’s, Early Chief of Police David Mercer and Bangs Chief of Police Jorge Camarillo holding some of the emergency supplies purchased.
