Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act, which would equip law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call.
“Police officers serve on the frontlines in our communities every day, and they are often first on the scene in medical emergencies,” said Senator Whitehouse, a former Rhode Island Attorney General and U.S. Attorney. “Our bipartisan legislation would provide officers in the field with emergency trauma kits, and fund standardized training to allow them to better protect Rhode Islanders and save lives.”
“When responding to medical emergencies, time and access to the right tools can mean the difference between life and death,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would equip law enforcement officers with high-quality trauma kits to prevent deaths due to blood loss and give patients the best chance of survival.”
Trauma kits play a vital role in preventing deaths due to blood loss. Between 30 to 40 percent of trauma-related deaths are caused by hemorrhaging, or uncontrolled bleeding. Having access to a trauma kit and early bleeding control can help bridge this gap and mean the difference between life and death.
“As police officers, we’re often the first to arrive at scenes where lives hang in the balance, and having the right tools can be the difference between life and death,” said Chief Thomas Oates of the Woonsocket Police Department and President of the RI Police Chiefs Association. “The bipartisan Improving Police CARE Act is a critical step in ensuring officers are equipped with high-quality trauma kits and the training to use them effectively. I commend Senators Whitehouse and Cornyn for their leadership in advancing this legislation that will help save lives and protect communities across the country.”
The Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act would:
Establish baseline standards in consultation with law enforcement and medical professionals for trauma kits purchased using grant funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG); and require the development of best practices that law enforcement agencies can adapt for training law enforcement officers to use trauma kits and for deployment and maintenance of the kits in vehicles and government facilities.
Cosponsors of this legislation include Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
