LIFE SAVING MEDICAL KIT FOR POLICE ON THE ROADS | HEDDLU AR Y FFYRDD YN DERBYN CIT MEDDYGOL I ACHUB BYWYDAU

Police officers have been given equipment that improves the chance of survival for those injured in a serious crash, as part of Dyfed-Powys Police’s effort to reduce the number of people who die on the roads.

The medical kits are being given to roads policing officers, who are often the first at the scene of a serious crash. They are described as the best available to deal with the type of bleeding they encounter at road traffic collisions, and also in the case of knife and glass wounds, and are the same as those issued to ambulance crews.

Sergeant Owen Dillon, of Brecon Roads Policing Unit, worked with the Welsh Ambulance Service to trial the kit, which he has called ‘simple to use, but effective’.

He said: “We work really hard to reduce the number of collisions on the roads, but unfortunately they do still happen, and people can become seriously injured.”

“It only takes a few minutes for someone to bleed to death, so it’s vital that police officers – who are often first at scene – can deal quickly with any bleeding while waiting for paramedics.”

The equipment has been bought with funding of around £1,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner. Traffic officers in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys will keep the equipment in their patrol cars.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, added: “Keeping people safe is a top priority for me and this investment will equip officers with the best medical kit possible to deal with immediate life threatening injuries.  I am committed to ensuring Dyfed-Powys plays an active role in keeping road users safe.”

Police officers are already trained to use tourniquets and bandages, and the Roads Policing Units who work as part of Op Darwen – the force’s campaign to reduce casualties on the roads – are being given the additional training they need to use this equipment.

Figures show that in 2018, 67 motorcyclists were either killed or seriously injured on roads in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, and men were eight times more likely to be affected than women.

The Welsh Ambulance Service is committed to working in partnership with other emergency services to save lives.

Carl Powell, Clinical Support Officer for the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “It is vital that Roads Policing Officers, who are often the first on scene and confronted with serious and life threatening injuries, are supported in preserving life with equipment that is effective in dealing with major bleeding.

“The trauma packs are a proven lifesaving asset and need minimal educational input to be used.”

As part of the Op Darwen, the force is urging motorcyclists to ride safely, and reminding drivers to be vigilant to motorbikes and other powered two-wheelers.

The campaign will run until October, when statistics say the roads are busiest. Roads Policing Units are working across the Dyfed-Powys Police area using a combination of education, engagement and enforcement, to reduce the number of casualties on the roads.

Mae swyddogion heddlu wedi derbyn cyfarpar sy’n gwella’r siawns y bydd y rheini sy’n cael eu hanafu’n ddifrifol mewn damwain car yn goroesi, fel rhan o ymdrech Heddlu Dyfed-Powys i ostwng nifer y bobl sy’n marw ar y ffyrdd.

Mae’r citiau meddygol yn cael eu rhoi i swyddogion plismona’r ffyrdd, sydd gan amlaf y cyntaf i gyrraedd lleoliad ble mae damwain difrifol wedi cymryd lle. Disgrifir y citiau fel y rhai gorau sydd ar gael i ddelio â’r math o waedu  sydd i’w weld ar ôl gwrthdrawiadau traffig ffyrdd, ac hefyd yn achos clwyfau gan gyllyll a gwydr, ac maen nhw yr un rhai â’r rhai a roddir i griwiau ambiwlans.

Gweithiodd y Rhingyll Owen Dillon, o Uned Plismona Ffyrdd Aberhonddu, gyda Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans Cymru i dreialu’r cit, ac mae wedi’u galw yn ‘syml i’w defnyddio, ond effeithiol’. Dywedodd:

“Rydym yn gweithio’n galed iawn i ostwng nifer y gwrthdrawiadau ar y ffyrdd, ond yn anffodus, maen nhw’n dal i ddigwydd, a gall pobl gael eu hanafu’n ddifrifol.”

“Ychydig funudau y mae’n cymryd i rywun waedu i farwolaeth, felly mae’n hanfodol bod swyddogion yr heddlu – sef yn aml y rhai cyntaf i gyrraedd y lleoliad – yn gallu delio’n gyflym gydag unrhyw waedu wrth aros am y parafeddygon.”

Prynwyd y cyfarpar  gyda chyllid o ryw £1,000 o Gomisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu. Bydd ceir traffig yn Sir Gâr, Ceredigion, Sir Benfro a Phowys yn cadw’r cyfarpar yn eu ceir patrôl.

Ychwanegodd Comisiynydd yr Heddlu a Throseddu, Dafydd Llywelyn: “Cadw pobl yn ddiogel yw un o’n brif flaenoriaethau i, a bydd y buddsoddiad yma yn darpar swyddogion gyda’r citiau meddygol gorau posib i fedru delio gydag anafiadau difrifol ac sy’n peryglu bywyd. Dwi’n ymrwymo i sicrhau bod Dyfed-Powys yn chwarae rôl weithredol i gadw defnyddwyr ffyrdd yn ddiogel.”

Mae swyddogion heddlu eisoes wedi’u hyfforddi i ddefnyddio’r rhwymynnau tynhau a rhwymynnau, ac mae’r Unedau Plismona Ffyrdd sy’n gweithio fel rhan o Ymgyrch Darwen – ymgyrch yr heddlu i ostwng nifer y marwolaethau ac anafiadau difrifol ar y ffyrdd – yn derbyn yr hyfforddiant ychwanegol sydd angen i ddefnyddio’r cyfarpar hwn.

Dengys ffigurau yn 2018 bod 67 o feicwyr modur naill ai wedi’u lladd neu’u hanafu’n ddifrifol ar y ffyrdd yn Sir Gâr, Ceredigion, Sir Benfro a Phowys, ac roedd dynion wyth gwaith yn fwy tebygol o gael eu heffeithio na menywod.

Mae Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans Cymru yn ymrwymedig i weithio mewn partneriaeth gyda gwasanaethau brys eraill i achub bywydau. Dywedodd Carl Powell, Swyddog Cefnogaeth Clinigol Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans Cymru:

“Mae’n hanfodol bod Swyddogion Plismona Ffyrdd, sy’n aml yn cyrraedd lleoliad y ddamwain yn gyntaf ac yn wynebu anafiadau difrifol ac sy’n peryglu bywyd, yn cael eu cefnogi i geisio achub bywydau gyda chyfarpar sy’n effeithiol wrth ddelio â gwaedu difrifol.

“Mae’r pecynnau trawma yn ased achub bywyd sydd wedi’i brofi ac ychydig iawn o fewnbwn addysgol sydd ei angen i’w defnyddio.”

Fel rhan o Ymgyrch Darwen, mae’r heddlu yn annog beicwyr modur i feicio’n ddiogel, gan atgoffa gyrwyr  i fod ar eu gwyliadwriaeth am feiciau modur a cherbydau dwy olwyn â phŵer eraill.

Cynhelir yr ymgyrch hyd at fis Hydref, gan y dengys yr ystadegau mai dyna pryd y mae’r ffyrdd ar eu prysuraf. Mae Unedau Plismona Ffyrdd yn gweithio ar draws ardal Heddlu Dyfed-Powys gan ddefnyddio cyfuniad o addysg, ymgysylltu a gorfodi, i ostwng nifer y marwolaeth ac anafiadau difrifol ar y ffyrdd.