A teenager who suffered a deep slash wound to his arm was saved by a quick-thinking officer who used rope to make a tourniquet.

PCSO Yasmin Calvert was on mobile patrol and first on the scene at the incident in Hartlepool, where the 18-year-old was badly injured.

He was cut down to the bone and was bleeding profusely from the top of his limb.

Yas, as she is known to her colleagues at the station, sprang into action straight away, providing lifesaving first aid.

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The Northern Echo: PCSO Yasmin CalvertPCSO Yasmin Calvert (Image: Contributor) She stemmed the bleed with tourniquet made out of a police throw line, a small rope, which bought her time before help arrived.

PC Shaun Cox got to the scene soon after in a van with a first aid kit containing tourniquets, which were then immediately applied to the victim, stopping the bleeding until the air ambulance arrived to transport the boy to hospital.

Hartlepool District Commander, Superintendent Martin Hopps said: “PCSO Calvert’s immediate actions certainly contributed to saving the teen, who suffered significant blood loss.

“Both PCSO Calvert and PC Cox’s actions in this difficult situation are commendable, and together they undoubtedly saved his life.”

Tourniquets are used to apply pressure to a limb in order to stop the flow of blood in an emergency.

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This life-saving equipment had recently been rolled out across all police vehicles at the end of January following suggestions made by three officers across the force.

Whilst Armed Response officers already carried equipment to apply to serious wounds and stem bleeding, response officers were not issued with these as standard, even though all officers are trained to use them.

The suggestion for all officers to be issued with tourniquets was welcomed by Chief Inspector Andy Liddell, lead on Dress, Appearance and Equipment, and rolled out across the force within a month of the submission of the idea.

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Supt Hopps added: “I’m extremely proud of all officers involved in this incident, and also those involved in the roll out of vital life-saving equipment to all Cleveland Police response vehicles.

“Cleveland officers really care about the communities they serve and demonstrate this dedication to protecting the public from harm and keeping people safe on a daily basis.

“The forward thinking, quick decision making and swift action of these officers ensured that a young man’s life was saved that day.”