Stanford University’s Department of Public Safety created a new campus program that will allow even untrained bystanders to treat people with injuries in the critical moments before emergency responders can arrive. They did this with the help of The Mobilize Rescue System, and a phone app.
For this new safety program, Stanford installed Public Access Trauma Stations – which are wall-mounted red plastic cases, in 50 locations across campus. Within each station, are four trauma kits containing tourniquets, bleeding control gauze, compression bandages, chest seals, Mylar blankets and face shields for administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Good Samaritans
The kits will allow bystanders to play an active role in responding to emergencies that result from accidents, medical emergencies and acts of violence. Since death from severe bleeding can occur in as little as 5 minutes, a bystander’s actions can save a life.
The kits and app are accessible to students, faculty, staff and visitors – anyone willing to step into the role of Good Samaritan and help treat someone before the ambulance arrives.
In California, anyone providing aid as a Good Samaritan – meaning people who are not doctors or licensed first responders, carry no liability for patient outcomes. According to the state Law: “No person who in good faith, and not for compensation, renders emergency medical or non-medical care at the scene of an emergency shall be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission.”
The central feature of these trauma kits is the Mobilize Rescue Phone App, which shows civilians how to provide potential lifesaving aid. Anyone who witnesses a medical emergency can retrieve a kit, open the app, follow the instructions and use the medical supplies in the kit to treat a patient. The app will guide you through the entire treatment process.
While first responders usually arrive on scene in urban settings in under 10 minutes, they may be delayed due to widespread disaster, a lock down following a shooting scenario. Or any other environmental factors beyond their control.
Implementation
Students are all provided with access to a video Introducing the University’s Safety Program, and demonstrating the Mobilize Rescue System, with a map of where the kits are located.
The kits offer a way for members of the Stanford community to engage in the university’s collective safety efforts. Their hope is that kits are never used, but they are thankful to their university for installing the public trauma kits in their buildings. They hope for the best, but are prepared for the worst.
The supplies in the kits are labeled and organized – color-coded and numbered – to match the instructions on the app. The app’s prompts are made of “yes” or “no” questions and the instructions are written in layperson’s terms, making it possible for anyone to render aid.
The phone app is free for Stanford students and staff with a University login, via Google Play and the App Store. If they have not downloaded the app beforehand, they can simply scan the QR code listed on the nearest Public Access Trauma Station.
Feel free to Contact us if interested in the Mobilize Rescue System for your home, school or organization. Schools qualify for special quantity discounts. Stay safe out there!
Contributors K. Sullivan and L. Cicero.
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The medical kit app provides “just in time” training that allows untrained civilians to manage trauma situations more effectively until emergency services arrive. It gives instructions regarding seizures, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, chest trauma, overdoses, trapped limbs, choking, burns, hypothermia, allergic reactions, and many other medical emergencies.
The app, which is available on any smartphone, provides clear instructions and “more info” buttons that offer additional clarification. It also creates a real-time record of medical care provided by the citizen for EMT reference. The larger kits, have a built-in tablet that opens the app, in which case, the phone app is not needed.
All supplies in the trauma kit feature numbers and color codes that match with the app. The user can find the item they need from the medical kit and follow the app’s instructions to provide emergency care. Most of the app’s interactive prompts feature ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions that guide the citizen as they assist the compromised individual.
No training is necessary to use the app and provide medical care with supplies from the kit. Each trauma kit includes a comprehensive range of first aid supplies, such as PPE, tourniquets, bleeding control dressings, cold compresses, cpr masks, eyewash, chest seals, splints, among many other items.
The kits and app make college campuses and workplaces safer. They also allow drivers to upgrade the first aid kits usually kept in the trunks of cars.
Purchase medical kits that include the Mobile Rescue app from Think Trauma Kits. The company ships trauma kits to clients throughout the country, as well as other emergency products such as defibrillators. Drop us an email if you'd like more information about these or any of our kits.
]]>Applying an ice pack is ideal for injuries such as sprains and bruising when you want to keep the swelling down. However, you should not apply the ice directly to the skin, as this can freeze and damage it. Instead, wrap the ice or pack it in a towel. Hold it onto the affected area for 20 minutes, then remove the cold treatment for 20 minutes, and reapply for another 20 minutes.
When someone is dehydrated or has fainted, do not give them soda, coffee, or any other similar type of beverage. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar only further dehydrate people. They can make the issue worse or cause the individual to faint again. Instead, give them water or a drink designed to restore electrolytes (coconut water, sports drinks, or Pedialyte®).
When someone begins to choke, use the “five and five” method as recommended by the Red Cross®. This incorporates a new step into the standard Heimlich. Lean the individual forward and stand behind them.
Using the heel of your hand, hit them between the shoulder blades five times. Stand them up, place your fist above the belly button, and thrust inward and upward five times (the Heimlich movement). Repeat as needed.
Think Trauma Kits has an expansive selection of ready-made first aid kits for every situation. Their trauma kits are made by veteran-owned companies, and all proceeds support rehabilitation therapy for children affected by cancer and brain tumors. Drop them an email for any questions or customization.
]]>There are many types of trauma kits on the market, but most focus on stopping or controlling bleeding until paramedics arrive or the injured individual can be taken to a hospital. They often include a pair of gloves for the law enforcement personnel, gauze and pressure bandages, tactical tourniquets, and emergency mylar blankets. Some even include chest seals, which can quickly address torso wounds in mass casualty events. You’ll also find an instruction card and a pair of trauma shears to cut clothing away, if needed. These items are efficiently packed in a zippered pouch for easy access. These kits are also available in vacuum sealed and zip lock pouches, which makes them more affordable, if you are purchasing multiple kits.
Many times, officers are the first individuals who arrive at the site of an emergency. Once they arrive, they take stock of any injuries and call in help from paramedics and other professionals if necessary. However, for victims of knife or bullet wounds, those few minutes of wait time may mean the difference between a quick recovery and a life-threatening injury.
That’s why trauma kits are a life-saving solution. If you can purchase and gift these kits to your local law enforcement personnel, they’ll have all the tools at their disposal to stop the bleeding immediately. They can carry the pouches with them or run back to their cars to grab the tools. With mass shootings becoming more and more of a problem in recent years, it’s always a smart investment to give first responders the resources they need to save lives.
If you’re interested in gifting trauma kits to your local law enforcement teams, turn to Think Trauma Kits. This nationwide supplier offers a wide range of kits online, such as the TACMED® Bleeding Control Kit with Chest Seal (SOF-T) and the NAR Ankle Trauma Kit (CAT). Send us an email if you have any questions or would like to customize a kit for your favorite LEO.
]]>Used on scene: 1) SofT Tourniquet 2) Quikclot Hemostatic and 3) Olaes Modular Pressure Bandage 10% DISCOUNT CODE: savelives
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