In total, £48,992 of funding has been provided to enhance the first aid response of all dog section officers across Thames Valley and Hampshire.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, and Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, have awarded more than £48,000 to fund lifesaving first aid equipment for all dog section vehicles.
Dog handlers will often be the first on the scene of calls and therefore in a position to provide potentially lifesaving support to those in need.
The new funding will provide dog handlers with a variety of lifesaving first aid equipment including defibrillators, airway management equipment and the ability to deal with catastrophic bleeds.
Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “This scheme will provide potentially life-saving equipment and I am delighted to be able to support this additional first aid equipment to all of our dog section vehicles.
“Dog handlers attend a range of incidents and their ability to deploy this equipment when arriving on scene can make a real difference to keeping our communities safe across Thames Valley.”
Richard Taylor, Sergeant for Thames Valley and Hampshire Police Joint Operations Dog Unit, said: "The Joint Operations Unit Dog Section are extremely grateful to both Donna Jones and Matthew Barber for providing the funding to purchase this Advanced First Aid equipment.
“Our Dog Handlers are routinely first on scene at incidents involving serious trauma and medical episodes, and I am in no doubt that this new equipment will help save lives".
Donna Jones, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: “Dog Units can often be the first to respond to emergency situations so it is vital they have the equipment they need to deal with any trauma or medical situation they face.
“Ultimately, this kind of equipment will help officers save lives and I am really pleased to fund the purchase which will no doubt keep communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer.”
