MIDDLETOWN, Ct. - An unnamed high school shop teacher was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after his hand was severely injured in a wood planer.

 

Police were called to Vinal Technical High School and treated the teacher for a "catostrophic injury" that involved partial amputation and arterial bleeding, police said. Police lauded trooper Alejandro Bugatti for "quick thinking and speedy response" - potentially saving the teacher's life by applying a tourniquet to the injured arm.

 

“Trooper Bugatti answered this call for service and with his quick thinking and speedy response, he immediately applied a tourniquet to the arm of the teacher in an effort to stop the rapid blood loss,” state police said in a statement late Tuesday. “It was fortunate this highly qualified SRO was on scene.”

 

Police said injuries like this can cause death in as little as five minutes.