Knights donate to Pct. 4 Constable’s Office

St. Martin’s Knights of Columbus, Council 11695, recently presented a check to Pct. 4 Constable Ron Hood for the purchase of emergency first aid training equipment.

The brief ceremony took place on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Hays County Pct. 4 Office.

“With this generous donation by the St. Martin’s Knights of Columbus, we will be able to purchase medical training aids to prepare ourselves better in helping victims of traumatic injury involving automobile accidents, shootings, stabbings, or even household accidents such as falling off a roof and suffering a compound fracture, or accidentally cutting oneself with a knife or even a chain saw,” Hood said. “Most deaths caused by traumatic injury occur not from the injury itself, but from not stopping the bleeding. With these devices, we will be better prepared in stopping the bleeding and preparing the injured person so they can be quickly transported to a higher level of medical care.”

For the Knights, this donation was but the latest example of the group’s community service, according to Grand Knight Peter Berardino.

“We heard of the constable’s need of these first aid training aids and are happy we could be of help,” he said. “Part of our mission, ‘faith and community,’ is stepping in when there is a community need such as this — so if, God forbid, there’s a need for emergency medical treatment, then our constables have the tools and training to respond.”

The check for $1,646.50 will be used by the Pct. 4 Constable’s office for the purchase of three devices which mimic human bleeding. One of the items purchased, a TrueClot Inguinal Trainer, is a wearable training aid that simulates a junctional hemorrhage that cannot be treated with a tourniquet and teaches advanced wound packing skills. The device can be placed on a manikin or worn by an actor for a higher level of realism. Training blood is pumped through the device to simulate hemorrhage and the large gunshot wound cavity can then be packed with a simulated hemostatic dressing. Only proper wound packing and compression, by the person(s) being trained, will cause the hemorrhaging to stop.

“We’re always looking at how to serve our community better, and these training-aid devices will help to raise our capabilities to another level,” Hood said. “Now we will be able to get more realistic training and actually practice these lifesaving techniques for a real-world scenario. We are greatly appreciative of this very generous gift from the Knights.”

Berardino also cited a desire by the Knights to serve the local community year-round. “Through our many fundraising activities throughout the year, such as our fish fries and Founders Day Beer and Food Booth, we ensure we have the funds available when a need like this arises,” he explained. “Throughout the year, we provide help to multiple entities in our community, and even provide scholarships for our young people.”

Dripping Springs Columbus Charities, Inc., is A 501(c)(3) organization dedicated solely to charitable works in our community in association with the local Knights of Columbus Council 11695. Contributions are tax deductible. For more information, visit dskofc. org.