On Tuesday, Feb. 16, University of Hartford had a press conference displaying the new QuikClot Bleeding Control Kits that will now be used on the campus.
It is said that the University is one of the first in New England to use this prototype which can help in severe bleeding situations. For instance, if a mass shooting happens, QuikClot is made to stop heavy bleeding when there is a mass amount of injured people. All of the Public Safety officers are now trained to use QuikClot in mass causality situations around campus if they should arise.
The QuikClot Kits were introduced by Hartford Hospital vice president of academic affairs Dr. Lenworth Jacobs at the press conference held in the Shaw Center at Hillyer Hall. They were demonstrated by Public Safety corporal Darren Pearson and Sophia Olsen (M’16). Each kit includes two different types of tourniquets, “Combat Gauze” coated with a quick clotting agent, hemostatic dressing, gloves and a marker to record the time the gauze was enacted.
The steps in using the tourniquets is to first use primary pressure with hands and then apply hemostatic dressing to help seal the injured blood vessels. Applying the tourniquet is as simple as wrapping it around the injured area, winding it up and securing it. The last important step is to call 911.
University of Hartford President Walter Harrison stated, “I am proud that we are leading the way among universities in New England by having a Public Safety department that is prepared if we are ever faced with the unfortunate occurrence of heavy bleeding casualties. These kits, along with our trained officers, improve our ability to assist those who are injured in such events.”
The creation of QuikClots clotting agent used on the gauze in the kits was created by University of Hartford alumnus and current regent Francis Hursey. Hursey was a technology and architecture major, and is now a former Apollo Space Program Engineer and current scientist and entrepreneur.
He patented the QuikClot Combat Gauze in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2002 that the product took off following the events of 9/11. The products are used by the military and have recently begun to be implemented in many police departments across the country. It was also sent out to Haiti to be used on the injured following the 2010 earthquake.
The kits were generously donated by University regent Rita Parisi and former regent Roger Klene. Parisi is a senior vice president for Hartford Healthcare while Kiene is a retired president and CEO of Mott Corporation, and was a member of the Hartford Hospital Board of Directors for 15 years.
However, Parisi hopes that there’s never a need to use the kits and “that the devices collect dust.”
Knowing that there are even more ways to help students on campus when trouble occurs and that all Public Safety officers are equipped and are able to perform when necessary makes our campus and other campuses around the country a safer place to attend.