Page 142 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2016

Individual First Aid Kits Translating Military Advances in External
(IFAKs) Hemorrhage Control to Law Enforcement

At this point in time, the US
Military has more experience
with tourniquets and hemostatic
dressings than any other
organization in history. (14 years
of war and 50,000 + casualties) Cost: $128

• In 2001 – very few American combatants had
tourniquets - no one had hemostatic dressings Dr. Frank Butler
• In 2015 - no American combatant goes onto the International Association of Chiefs of Police
battlefield without an IFAK that contains both 26 October 2015

Ft. Hood Shootings 2009 TCCC in the Civilian Sector
Officer Kim Munley

• 12 dead; 31 wounded on 5 Nov 09
• Officer Munley got the shooter
• She was in turn shot in both thighs
• Direct pressure and improvised tourniquets used by
several physicians unsuccessful at controlling
hemorrhage – went into
shock
• Saved by Army 68W
medic with a CAT
tourniquet on left * No mention of tourniquet
thigh use in the story

The Hartford Consensus: Hartford Consensus III
ACS Response to Sandy Hook

• American College of Surgeons • Recommended tourniquets and hemostatic dressings for EMS/
• FBI Fire and Rescue/Law Enforcement Officers.
• White House – Medical Policy • “All hemostatic dressings and tourniquets must be clinically
• White House Medical effective as documented by valid scientific data. The Tactical
• Asst Secretary of Defense - Health Combat Casualty Care guidelines for the U.S. military contain
Affairs objective evidence to support the safety and efficacy of the
• Asst Secretary of Homeland Security – various options for tourniquets and hemostatic dressings.”
Health Affairs Dr. Lenworth Jacobs - ACS
• Medical Section – Major Chiefs
of Police “When discussing tourniquets and hemostatic dressings in 2015,
• ACS Committee on Trauma one can be either evidence-based or brand neutral – but not
• DoD Committee on TCCC 50 both.”
FKB - CoTCCC

128 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 16, Edition 2/Summer 2016