Bipartisan legislation introduced to provide law enforcement trauma kits

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE) recently introduced legislation equipping law enforcement officers with trauma kits to respond if a civilian or officer experiences traumatic injury.

The American Law Enforcement Sustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources (SAVER) Act establishes baseline standards in consultation with law enforcement and medical professionals for trauma kits purchased via grant funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG).

“Law enforcement officers are often the first on the scene of a health emergency, but they can only do so much to triage an injury without the proper resources,” Cornyn said via a statement. “By providing these brave men and women with high-quality trauma kits, this bipartisan legislation would ensure they are well-equipped to respond immediately when it matters most and help bridge the gap between a crisis and emergency medical technicians’ arrival.”

The legislation also requires the development of optional best practices law enforcement agencies can adapt for training law enforcement officers to use trauma kits, as well as deployment and maintenance of the kits in vehicles and government facilities.

“First responders on the frontlines every day need access to every life-saving intervention available,” Whitehouse said via a statement. “Our bipartisan legislation would set clear performance standards and best practices for emergency trauma kits used in the field, so that law enforcement officers have the tools and training they need to save lives.”