A grant from the Spirit of Blue law enforcement support group will help the Gulf Shores Police Department supply several dozen personnel with North American Rescue tourniquets.

“The grant notice was given Sept 6 and the items arrived from North American Rescue in early December,” Don Fuller with the department’s Special Operations Division said. “They will be used for Bleeding Incidents such as severe lacerations, gunshot wounds, construction accidents and any critical incident for first responder or civilian application.”

The grant for more than $4,600 will supply the device to 62 police and corrections officers within the department.

Lt. Josh Hoguet wrote the grant seeking the tourniquets and says this is an added valuable tool for Gulf Shores officers.

“The tourniquets are a big factor in our officers responding to scenes,” Hoguet said. “A lot of times they’re either there first to apply medical aid and along with tourniquets, we’ve seen AED usage. We’ve seen NARCAN usage. This all plays a role in getting our officers prepared for what they may see in the field.”

Each officer now carries NARCON nasal sprays to counter opioid overdoses and a trauma kit in their patrol units and at the city jail. Each of those officers will also receive training on how to use the device.

The most likely use for the tourniquets will be at auto accidents, but Officer Brian Wallace says they’ll be helpful to him in various ways.

“Whether we’re treating another officer or treating ourselves, or we’re treating a civilian in a serious motor vehicle accident or something as serious as a shooting, all these principals go along with what we are doing here,” Wallace said.

About the Spirit of Blue organization:

“We are dedicated to the enhancement of officer safety and vitality throughout the law enforcement community by promoting public awareness for their protection and fulfilling safety equipment and training needs,” according to its website. “Over 900,000 law enforcement officers honorably serve the population of the United States – that equates to one officer for every 350 citizens. On average, 125 officers are lost and another 15,000 are injured in the line of duty each year. Yet funding for safety equipment and training is dwindling as tax revenues decline. The need for supplemental funding to protect these officers has never been greater.”