Ga. DNR Receives Emergency Medical Kit Donation

State officials said that DNR law enforcement rangers are now better equipped to deal with potentially life-threatening injuries, even in the most remote areas of the state, thanks to a donation of important medical equipment.

Thanks to a grant made possible through the Georgia Trauma Commission and the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services, DNR Law Enforcement received 250 personal trauma kits, and the training on their use, earlier this year.

In 2014, a group of Rangers began exploring the idea of carrying personal trauma kits shortly after hearing of a severely injured Texas Game Warden who saved his own life with one of the kits. After a little research, they connected with the two agencies who enthusiastically embraced the project and donated the kits.

Officials said that Georgia DNR Rangers, who enforce all boating and hunting laws and regulations statewide, often respond to hunting and boating incidents that result in critical injuries in locations that are not always easily accessible to emergency services or equipment.

Also, officials said they are called upon frequently to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with a variety of public safety related duties where life threatening situations arise.

The kits, which contain a Combat Application Tourniquet, emergency trauma dressing, extra gauze, and latex gloves, are expected to assist the officer in beginning treatment of critical injuries and will assist in the event of severe trauma and blood loss until definitive medical care can arrive.

North American Rescue, who assembles the kits and provided combat medics for a “train the trainers” course at the DNR, also provides casualty care products to the U.S. military.

Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division Director Colonel Eddie Henderson said the agency believes these kits will save the lives of citizens and potentially officers, if they are injured in the field, calling the donation a big win for officers and citizens.