CVHS Announces Donation to All County Law Enforcement

Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) has announced a donation of 400 Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) to be distributed to every law enforcement patrol car in Catawba County. A ceremony on June 11 marked the event with CVHS president and CEO Dennis Johnson making the announcement.

CVHS also is conducting four-hour training sessions called “Stop the Bleed” for officers at its SimLab, located at Catawba Valley Community College where law enforcement personnel learn how to use the contents of the bag in the event of arriving at a scene where a gunshot or stab wound must be addressed before rescue personnel can arrive.

The idea for the bags was first presented by Bobby Lineberger, First Sergeant with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and a Catawba Medical Foundation board member. An April 29, 2024, shooting in Charlotte that caused multiple law enforcement fatalities was when Lineberger said, “It turned different after that.” He added that he doesn’t know any other county that has being outfitted with these kits.

“I’m so grateful Catawba Valley Health System shares this vision of giving officers what they need if they ever find themselves in situations like the April 29^th event where every second is critical in preserving life,” Lineberger added. “These tactical medical kits, plus the training the officers receive from the health system, puts our county at the forefront of law enforcement.”

Johnson said, “It’s an honor to make such an innovation possible for our county’s officers. This is a very worthy investment for our health system to make for the people whose job is to protect us and each other. The partnership between CVHS and law enforcement with kits like these help us play a part in life-saving care if these brave men and women are ever faced with a potentially tragic situation.”

Those represented at the ceremony included the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Catawba County Sheriff’s Department, as well as officers from the Hickory, Newton, Catawba, Conover, Claremont, Maiden, and Long View departments.