HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - After learning that two out of three law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty die from blood loss, a Marion County woman has set out to raise money to buy triage kits for local law enforcement.
Lois Holmes first raised money for Project Triage trauma kits for officers with the Columbia Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Department, according to the Hattiesburg American (https://hatne.ws/1ROjS5V). Since then, Holmes has been able to give kits to Prentiss, Sumrall, Lumberton and Purvis officers.
“Through the generosity of churches, businesses and friends, I’ve been able to provide these kits,” she said.
Now Holmes has her sights set on Hattiesburg. She approached Hattiesburg Police Chief Anthony Parker and spokesman Lt. Jon Traxler about her desire to get the kits to every officer - human and K-9 - in the department.
Parker and Traxler agreed that the kits would be helpful to officers, but the funds for the kits are not in the department’s budget. Each kit costs $50, and K-9 kits are $100. Holmes said the department requested 125 officer kits and three K-9 kits.
“(Providing the kits) would show the police officers the care and concern the community has,” Traxler said
Holmes is raising money in the Hattiesburg area to procure kits for every Hattiesburg PD officer and K-9.
The kits, which measure less than 1 square foot, contain hemostatic gauze, compression dressing, a tourniquet and other medical supplies. They are designed to be used with one hand and carried inside officers’ vests so they can treat themselves while they wait for help to arrive. The kits also can be used on injured civilians.
Eventually, Holmes said, she would like to provide every law enforcement officer in Mississippi with a Project Triage kit and is seeking business and corporate sponsors.
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Information from: The Hattiesburg American, https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com
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