This information comes from recent Police1 polls. Polls are updated on the P1 homepage each month and open to all P1 readers. Make your voice heard HERE in our latest poll.
From handling mental health calls to being on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibilities of the modern police officer are constantly evolving and expanding, going well beyond the traditional position of law enforcer into areas such as social work.
The most prominent example of this is arguably in the area of healthcare; as the nation grapples with challenges such as the opioid crisis, agencies are increasingly recognizing the role cops – often first on the scene of a health emergency – can play in saving lives.
This month, we asked our readers a series of questions about the medical gear they carry, the training they’ve received and the lifesaving measures they’ve taken on the job. Here are the results:
As you can see, the results suggest that cops are indeed playing an increasing role in providing medical care. Only 17% of respondents have never performed CPR while on duty, the majority carry naloxone (77%) and tourniquets (94%) as part of their gear, and 58% have received first aid/CPR certification, while 31% have undergone EMT training.
Here’s what our readers thought about their increased role in providing medical care in the field:
“As a police officer and an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest survivor (who had CPR/CCR done on me by my wife and a fellow police officer), I’m pleased to see this data on law enforcement cardiac response,” reader and P1 contributor Brandon Griffith wrote. “I’ve been in law enforcement over a decade and don’t know many officers who haven’t done CPR in the field. Police continue to be the most underutilized component of the chain of survival (not being equipped with AEDs and not receiving high-quality cardio-cerebral resuscitation training). This poll highlights the need for enhanced law enforcement cardiac response that would increase survival in an unprecedented way.”
Our readers shared stories of attempts not only to save civilians but fellow officers – an important reminder that lifesaving gear and training is as much an officer safety issue as it is a public safety issue.
They also weighed in on the source of their medical gear, with some sharing that their tourniquets came free via the 1033 program. Others said their agencies got naloxone from state health departments or universities at no charge.
For those who weren’t provided a tourniquet from their department, many purchased their own. Some commenters argued that all cops should carry one, and it’s foolish not to.
“I can’t understand why any LEO wouldn’t have taken it upon themselves to have always carried a trauma kit. Common sense,” Richard Johnson wrote.
What’s your take on providing care in the field? Should agencies be doing more in terms of providing gear and training? Are cops being asked to do too much? Email editor@police1.com and read the following articles to learn more:
