Maryville Public Safety gets trauma go-bags

Several local businesses donated funds and supplies to Maryville Public Safety allowing it to purchase and equip a trauma go-bag for each officer on the squad.

Maryville Public Safety Sergeant Ryan Glidden and Officer Adam James, center, thank Wal-Mart employees for contributing to the trauma go-bags. Store Manager Dave Mullies, front, told employees he was proud of them. “They deserve the credit,” Mullies said.

A trauma go-bag is a first-aid bag filled with medical supplies. Because officers are usually the first person on the scene of an accident, their ability to provide prompt care upon arrival can be the difference between life or death. Officers face many types of accidents including those involving gunshot wounds, industrial injuries and car crash trauma.

Although a few police officers had created their own medical kits, Maryville Public Safety could not provide one of these $250 bags for every officer. Officers found ways to improvise, sometimes using absorptive feminine hygiene products to plug gunshot wounds and stop bleeding.

Maryville Hy-Vee hosted a fundraising breakfast for the go-bag project raising $900. The money purchased 20 tan bags, one for each officer on the squad.

“I just want to say thank you to the citizens for supporting the community,” Travis Buysse, Hy-Vee store director, said.

An anonymous citizen donated medical sheers for each go-bag while others made monetary donations.

Maryville Wal-Mart donated $1,800. The money purchased pressure bandages, tourniquets, combat gauze and quick clot packs that accelerate clotting and stop bleeding.

“This is a small way we can show our support for all that the officers do,” Janet Neel, Wal-Mart’s assistant protection manager, said.

Two Maryville business owners, Marshall Shell, Shell’s Service Station, and Mark Allen, Clinton-Allen Monuments, each donated $100.

SSM St. Francis Hospital Director of Facilities Management Gary Thompson delivered medical supplies including compression packs, CPR masks, gauze rolls, stretch bandages and medical tape.

“We appreciate everything the police do to help us. They are a tremendous resource in our community and we wanted to show our appreciation,” Thompson said.

Nodaway County paramedic Jill Nielson, who also works part-time for Maryville Public Safety, created a training course on go-bag item use which all officers attended in August.

Maryville Public Safety Sergeant Ryan Glidden said he appreciates the community contributions. “I think this shows that there is excellent support for the community,” Glidden said.