Area constables taught residents that they are their own first responder.
Participants were taught how to perform chest compressions and how to apply an automated external defibrillator at the Williamson County Constable Precinct 4 office, 412 Vance St., March 7.
Attendees received TAKE10 certifications, a course that provides CPR basics.
“We have to take our self-sustainability on ourselves,” Lt. Mike Pendley said. “Especially out on this side of the county, there are a lot of rural areas. If you have an accident, say while you’re doing agricultural work, it may take 10 minutes before we get there. So, if you have someone else with you that’s educated and trained, that’s a big deal.”
The class was the seventh week of the Constable Citizen’s Academy, a 10-week course that gives locals a chance to learn about all aspects of the Constable Office’s duties and functions.
Citizen’s Academy students were given inflatable compression trainers that clicked whenever the participant’s hands pushed the desired amount of force.
Pendley said proper technique can lead to the patient suffering broken ribs, but that’s better than the alternative. He said compressions should go two inches deep into the chest, which aligns with the training device’s clicks.
“Our goal was to give them a reference point,” Pendley said. “If (they) have to do this for real, (they) are really going to have to press.”
He added that since actors in movies and television shows don’t want to cause damage to a healthy actor, viewers get the wrong idea of how hard they need to push.
Students also got to practice using an automated external defibrillator, a machine that can diagnose cardiac troubles and provide electricity to the patient.
After watching videos on how to properly apply the items beforehand, residents also learned how to apply a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze and chest seals.
Pendley said learning the basics of medical aid is something that everyone should consider.
“It’s kind of a time chooses you deal,” he said. “We can say I’ve been meaning to take CPR or I’ve been meaning to learn this, but it could easily happen at any moment.”
Pendley, along with Constable Paul Leal, also explained the different handcuffing techniques Thursday.
Pendley and Leal talked about what type of handcuffs they use, and described the different strategies they employ to prevent someone from attempting to escape.
Pendley said that they will begin taking applications for their third Constable Citizen’s Academy soon after the current program ends. Pendley said he expects it to take place in the summer.
“Our goal of it is to just have them come in because, just like the TAKE10, now we have a more educated community,” Pendley said.
