Mansfield Police Officers Train To Use Tourniquets In Live Fire Exercise

MANSFIELD (CBS) - The Mansfield Police Department is teaching its officers how to use tourniquets in the hope of preventing deaths from critical blood loss.

Sergeant Roy Bain says the program launched last year and has become even more important in the wake of recent incidents where police have been shot around the country.

"The first time you apply a tourniquet shouldn't be when your buddy or your fellow officer is bleeding out," Bain said.

Mansfield's training involves learning to use tourniquets and practical application. Officers learned that only 2.5 liters of blood loss can lead to death and it can happen within 30 seconds.

Then, they test out their tourniquet skills in a simulated live fire situation, addressing their "injured" comrade as they keep their eyes trained on a potentially armed target.

"You know, we're trying to increase their odds of survivability in a critical incident. If we can do that, it's a win for us," Bain said.

Last week, two Boston police officers were shot during a domestic call in East Boston. Doctors credited a tourniquet with saving Officer Matt Morris' life.