Stop The Bleed Kits To Be Installed In Every HCPSS Building Following Staff Training

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Staff across the Howard County Public School System will undergo Stop The Bleed training and kits will be in stalled in every HCPSS school building and administration building.

According to research, the No. 1 cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. The Stop The Bleed campaign, a federal initiative, was launched to help prepare people to save lives in emergencies by knowing how to stop bleeding.

"This innovative program is not just about responding to emergencies. It’s about preparing as many people as possible to act swiftly and effectively in the critical moments when every second counts. I am grateful to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for training our HCPSS health and P.E. staff in the Stop the Bleed campaign so students who experience major hemorrhaging can receive prompt, possibly life-saving care," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Howard County leaders teamed up with the school district, members of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services for the staff member training.

"This exciting opportunity to extend access to Stop the Bleed training across Howard County is part of our broader commitment to ensuring every Marylander has these life-saving skills,” said Kristie Snedeker, DPT, vice president, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. “Health teachers have always been valuable frontline public health and education advocates in our communities, so they are important allies toward this goal."

High school students enrolled in health I classes also will have the opportunity to get certified in Stop the Bleed.

"As a school district, we place tremendous importance on maintaining safe and healthy schools and workplaces," said HCPSS Superintendent William J. Barnes. "However, there are inevitably times when a student or staff member requires immediate attention due to a health emergency. I am grateful for the county executive, Shock Trauma and Howard County Fire and Rescue for their extraordinary efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and response efforts in our schools and office buildings. I also have great appreciation for our physical education and health educators, and school nurses who are receiving Stop the Bleed training and amplifying it with students."

Howard County was one of the first counties in the nation to implement a community wide Stop the Bleed program. All police and fire personnel were trained in the program and bleed control kits were included in all county-owned automated external defibrillators.

“Howard County was one of the first to implement a community wide Stop the Bleed program,” said Matthew Levy, chief medical officer, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. “We have actively collaborated with the school system to train staff and equip schools with STB kits. Additionally, we helped implement a program to teach STB in high school health classes. We are excited about the program's expansion and look forward to continuing our collaboration with HCPSS and Shock Trauma.”