Victoria Police to equip officers with tourniquets after alleged attack on Helen Haines
A major change is coming to Victoria Police after hero bystanders were forced to use their own medical equipment to save Helen Haines' life.
Victoria Police will equip frontline officers with tourniquets following the attack on independent MP Helen Haines after hero bystanders were forced to use their own medical equipment to save her life.
Jacob Evans and his partner raced towards danger outside Dr Haines’ Wangaratta office, remarkably armed with the right medical equipment in those critical seconds to help save the mother-of-three.
“I had a rather extensive medical kit in the car,” Evans said.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Police arrived within eight seconds from the first triple zero call, but still relied on Evans’ medical tools.
“We had requested any medical equipment, any tourniquets from them that they had and they sort of just shook their head and said we don’t have anything,” he said.
The emergency has already triggered change in Victoria Police with 2000 tourniquet kits given out to officers from January 1. The kits will be provided to frontline members across the state including general duties and highway patrol officers who are usually the first responders at serious accidents.
Haines continues to recover in The Alfred hospital in Melbourne after losing both legs in the incident. Her staff were some of the first on scene, racing from the office after hearing the commotion. “She’s a fighter and we’ll have her back,” former member of Indi Cathy McGowan said.
Monday’s alleged deliberate attack on the independent MP left her community vowing “we can’t let violence win”.
In a moving press conference on Wednesday, Haines’ husband Phil asked the community to show their support to a non-for-profit close to his wife’s heart.
In just 24 hours, supporters have raised more than $400,000 for Save the Children.
“I’ve never seen something quite like this where it’s attached to an individual, someone like Helen,” Save the Children CEO Mat Tinkler said.
The accused, Brendan Nugent, now spends 23 hours a day locked down in the Melbourne Assessment Prison. He’s treated as high risk because of the national attention on the case.
The 43-year-old will be offered one hour out of his cell into a secure yard, which allows him fresh air without any other prisoner interaction.
He will face court again in February next year.
Originally published on 7NEWS
