At the invitation of the Liberty Link Foundation 360, Bartow, Florida, In-Gauge of Polk County, a private, non-profit organization, chartered by the National Rifle Association, conducted a free youth gun safety class, for the participants of Liberty Link 360’s summer youth program. The class was conducted Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Liberty Link Foundation 360, facility in Bartow, Florida.
Recognizing the alarming rise of accidental child shootings, the Liberty Link Foundation 360 invited In-Gauge of Polk County to educate the teenage participants of its summer youth program on gun safety.
Using an audio visual presentation and physical props In-Gauge emphasized the importance of gun safety.
The overall message was: If you are not authorized and trained in the use of a gun, don’t touch it and always assume that every gun is loaded.
At the completion of the presentation, each participant was issued with a gun safety lock to accompany their certificate of training.
In-Gauge of Polk County routinely conducts gun safety training classes for the public and child gun safety seminars throughout the year, making available free gun locks to the public. The locks are provided through the generosity of local businesses that are concerned with child gun safety.
In 2023, In-Gauge of Polk County distributed over 500 gun locks, free to the public. In-Gauge of Polk County relies solely on the financial generosity of local businesses to fund its child gun safety program.
For information on how to donate to In-Gauge of Polk County’s child gun safety gun lock program, call 863-206-1996 or send an email inquiry to: robert_admin@ingaugepolkcounty.org
Arming themselves, the 2 women rushed to the aid of an elderly woman being viciously mauled by two pit bull terriers.
In-Gauge of Polk County, in Winter Haven, Florida recognized two women for their quick and decisive actions that saved the life of a 72-year-old woman, who was being viciously attacked by two pit bull terriers, at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 14th.
The incident occurred the evening of April 29th, in Brandon, Florida. While in her kitchen, preparing dinner, Cierra Medina heard screaming coming from the street in front of her house. Looking out the kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being attacked by two pit bull terriers. One dog biting and tugging at the woman’s left arm the other clamped on to the woman’s right leg, pulling in the opposite direction.
Retrieving her 9mm pistol, Cierra rushed out the front door of her house to the woman’s aid, firing one round into the ground, hoping to frighten the dogs into releasing their grip on the victim. Regrettably, the dogs were undeterred and continued to attack the woman. Attempting to fire another round, Cierra discovered her gun had jammed.
It was then Cierra was joined by Kristy Parks, who lives across the street and also responded to the screams for help. Kristy, armed with a .380 took aim and fired one round, point-blank, into the larger, more aggressive dog’s frontal chest. The dog was unaffected. As the dog turned, pulling backward on the woman’s thigh, Kristy fired a second shot broadside into the dog’s chest. Being struck a second time, the dog broke its grip and backed off. Both dogs stood back growling at the two rescuers.
As Kristy held the dogs at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim inside a chain-link fence and gate. With all three safely inside the closed gate, Cierra helped the victim into her home where Cierra administered first aid until law enforcement and EMS arrived. The victim was transported to Tampa Regional Hospital Trauma Center for the treatment of her injuries.
Cierra and Kristy were each presented with Citizen Hero Awards, a STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kit and a gift certificate from the Wild West Arms Gun Store, for the replacement of the two guns confiscated by law enforcement as evidence.
Cierra and Kristy received official STOP THE BLEED training and were certified during Tuesday evening’s meeting.
May is National STOP THE BLEED Month. Being a licensed STOP THE BLEED training provider, In-Gauge of Polk County conducts free, open-to-the-public STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the year.
Up date: The victim has been released from Tampa Regional Hospital and will remain confined to a wheelchair and has lost mobility of her right arm, due to nerve damage sustained in the dog attack. The dog owner was issued a fine by Hillsborough County Animal Control, with other charges pending by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
* The victim’s name is kept anonymous under Florida’s Marsy’s Law.
National retailer installs emergency STOP THE BLEED equipment stations in stores.
STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kits can now be found in the customer service area of Florida Walmart Stores.
Located in the customer service are of your local Walmart Store.
May is National Stop The Bleed Month. Locally and nationwide, free STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss training classes will be conducted. To find a training class to near you, go to STOPTHEBLEED.org at: https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search
In-Gauge of Polk County will be conducting free STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the month of May. For clinic dates and times, use the link above or go to: In-Gauge STOP THE BLEED or
This a free 1 to 1-1/2 hour hands-on training clinic on the control of traumatic blood loss due to work place or home accident, traffic accident, shooting or any other incident that results in injury with blood loss.
This is a nationally recognized program, developed by the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma and provided by BleedingControl.org . A nationally recognized certificate of training is issued upon successful completion.
There is no cost for this training class. This training is provided free of charge, as a community service, by In-Gauge of Polk County.
Stop the Bleed training – In-Gauge of Polk County, Winter Haven, Florida
If you would like to have a FREE Stop The Bleed training clinic conducted at your place of business, church, civic group or community organization, go to CONTACT US on our website and we will be happy to conduct an on-location training clinic at your convenience.
To date, ours are the only free Stop The Bleed training clinics conducted south of Orlando and east of Tampa.
Next free training clinic: Tuesday, May 14th – 6:30 PM
