Monday, April 19, 2010

A visit with a Texas Ranger


This last weekend I went to Denton, Texas for a book festival. While I was there, I visited with a Texas Ranger for a book I'm working on and had a great interview and insight into what a Texas Ranger does. In the whole state of Texas there are less than 150 of them. They deal with all kinds of crimes from murder to corruption in the government to protecting the governor of Texas. They have a rich history, and it's an honor to be a member of the Texas Rangers. They work with local law enforcement agencies as well as federal ones.

The most interesting fact I discovered while talking with the Texas Ranger was they carry a first aid kit that has a clotting cloth in it. If he gets shot, he (or someone else) can take this cloth (packaged individually in paunches), stuff it into the bullet hole to clot the wound. It can make the difference from bleeding out and dying to getting to the hospital in time to treat the wound and living.

5 comments:

Linda said...

I'll be looking for this new book!!!

Pamela Tracy said...

Me, too!

Leann Harris said...

Margaret, I didn't know about the first aid kit. It makes sense as far as some of the Rangers have to go in West Texas. What's the Ranger's name?

Lynette Eason said...

VERY COOL!

Deborah M said...

Very interesting Margaret. Thanks for sharing.
Deborah M.