By WILLIAM CLARK
In December, a call came from a house in Allenhurst that was under construction. A worker had been cut badly on his arm by a circular saw while working on a roof.
Sgt.David Lipari arrived on the scene and administered aid to the man using a tourniquet with a unique design from STAT Medical Devices based in Freehold.
Lipari used the Xforce tourniquet, which had been provided to all Allenhurst Police Officers, to stop the man’s loss of blood. He ultimately recovered and Lipari was commended by the Allenhurst Board of Commissioners in addition to the company for his quick actions.
Allenhurst Police Chief Michael Schneider said Lipari was prepared for the situation and his quick response was vital in helping the man.
STAT Project Manager Alfonse Dimino said the company’s objective in designing the Xforce was based on ease of use. Diminio pointed to a recent study administered by Rutgers University that found the design allowed for 47 percent faster application time. Dimino said where other tourniquets require more steps to get the full effect of the tool, the Xforce is simple and intuitive.
“Others are designed for the military,” he said. “There’s a lot to teach and understand.”
STAT designed the Xforce with a layperson in mind and how easily they can apply it to another person and themselves.
“It’s designed like a zip tie,” Dimino said.
Dimino said their product has been sold and used around the world in other situations. Some events were simple such as a boy on the beach in Florida who was cut by an oyster shell. Other situations were more intense like a chainsaw incident by a logger in the United Kingdom. One incident where a motorcyclist had lost both legs during a crash, two Xforce tourniquets were used within minutes and were able to save the man’s life.
Schneider said his officers all carry and are trained in the use of tourniquets and other life saving devices.
“But you hope to never have to use it,” he said. “It’s better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.”
Schneider again praised Lipari, a veteran of the force since 2006, saying Lipari is “my right hand man for a reason.”
