NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WBBM Newsradio) – The Naperville Fire Department is adding new medical equipment to its emergency response arsenal, adopting a device proven to save lives in military combat settings.
Crews have been training with SAM junctional tourniquets, a specialized tool designed to control severe bleeding and stabilize pelvic fractures – injuries where traditional tourniquets are often ineffective.
“It is just another tool to add in our arsenal of tools that we have to better serve our community and hopefully get better outcomes with that,” said Bill Croft, division chief of health services for the Naperville Fire Department.
Unlike standard tourniquets that are placed high on an arm or leg, junctional tourniquets are used for so-called “junctional wounds” – injuries near the groin or armpit where a conventional tourniquet cannot stop blood loss.
The device can also function as a pelvic binder, stabilizing serious pelvic fractures and helping reduce pain during transport.
“When someone has a pelvic fracture and we need to stabilize the pelvis, we can use this device,” Croft said. “It wraps around the hips and locks everything into place, keeping everything aligned and reducing that pain for the patient.”
Fire officials say the department decided to invest in the equipment based in part on its success in military trauma care, where rapid bleeding control has been credited with saving lives on the battlefield.
The tourniquets will be carried on every ambulance and fire suppression unit in Naperville and stored in trauma bags, ensuring first responders have immediate access during critical emergencies.