Latoya Bulgin incident calls for urgent need to train police officers 

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The unfortunate, fatal shooting of Latoya Bulgin in Montego Bay last week has sparked a lot of public outrage, which is well warranted. 

I am no legal expert and will stay away from commenting on that aspect of this case. I will speak within the area of my training. 

As a doctor, I watched the video circulating, my spine tingling with chills.  After being shot, there were no meaningful attempts to save life or limb by the police.

Bulgin was seen in video footage, being dragged from the vehicle foot first, her head hit the ground, and she was dragged and then tossed into the back of a pickup.

It is evident that the JCF officers, who are often the first responders at accident scenes and other locations where first aid may be required, need to be trained to respond to traumatic situations. 

There should be a standard first aid kit in the police vehicles to include basic equipment to stop bleeding (gauze packs, tourniquets). 

Equipment to stop bleeding (there should be at least one officer who is trained to use this equipment). Research showed that 90-96 per cent of all patients who had severe bleeding and tourniquets were applied correctly and on time survived, while survival is zero if tourniquets are reapplied in extreme bleeds. The presence of a spine board to remove a victim from a vehicle could prevent permanent spinal cord injury. 

Bulgin’s extraction from the vehicle is a prime example of how not to extract an individual from a vehicle. It is the perfect example of creating a cervical spine injury.

Police vehicles should also be equipped with Automated External Defibrillators. Opportunity is not lost for the JCF to upskill its members, especially those engaging the public in operations. 

Being proficient in the basic rudiments of first aid and the effective execution of the practices can be a very important factor in determining whether a person lives or dies.

Proper first aid practices can determine whether one ends up with life-changing spinal cord injuries or preservation of the spinal cord and the quality of life. 

These are needed across the board – for the general public and also for officers who may be injured in the line of duty. 

Let us once again consider where we are heading without proper training.

CONCERNED MEDICAL DOCTOR