Tucson PD: Individual First Aid Kit Program A Success

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – The Tucson Police Department has been using the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) since February 2014 and is declaring the program a success.

All sworn TPD officers have an IFAK in their patrol cars. Inside each IFAK is a tourniquet, Quik-Clot Combat Gauze, HALO Chest Seal and modular bandages. All of the items in the kit allow an officer to stop the bleeding on a victim of a shooting, stabbing or even a car crash.

Since 2014, Tucson police officers have used an item from the kit more than 160 times. According to the city of Tucson website, TPD reported 65 uses in 2014, 88 uses in 2015 and seven times so far this year.

TPD officials report they have seen many successes with the IFAK system since it began, which includes a d rop in the annual number of homicides in comparison to years prior.

According to Tucson police officials, the kit allows the officer to give early medical treatment, that can be potentially lifesaving.