News : Schools/Agencies Recognize need for Stop the Bleed Training for Emergencies

Wall mount bleeding control kit

bleeding control kit consisting of individual kits

Contents of bleeding control kids

applying a tourniquet to a leg

Braxton Morrison NBA and Alex Gutierrez VPD with a Bleeding Control Kit for training purposes

Over the last several months, the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District, Vinton Police Department, North Benton Ambulance, Benton County Public Health, and Virginia Gay Hospital have been working together to better prepare VSCSD facilities, staff and students to respond to any potentially life-threatening traumatic injury on school grounds in accordance with the national Stop the Bleed campaign. Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign that began in 2015. It encourages citizens to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. May 2019 is the first nationally recognized Stop the Bleed Month

Life-threatening bleeding emergencies on school grounds can occur from a variety of causes such as accidents, disasters or hostile acts. This extensive project has included requests for grant money from various sources. As grant money becomes available it is being directed toward two primary purposes; the purchase of multiple bleeding control kits to be placed throughout VSCSD facilities where they are easily accessible, and training equipment that will be used to instruct in the proper use of the bleeding control supplies

As additional funding is received, more kits will be added to improve access to the lifesaving contents that include tourniquets, bandages, and litters. The bleeding control kits will also serve as examples of preparedness to other community facilities such as government buildings, churches, and theaters that often host large group events.

Stop the Bleed training sessions for VSCSD staff have already been planned in order to ensure a significant number of them will have been trained before the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Training in the use of the bleeding control kits will also be offered to interested VSCSD students and area first responders including firefighters, EMS and law enforcement.

Public training sessions will soon be offered as an ongoing community service by the participating agencies. Current instructors in the Vinton area for the Stop the Bleed training sessions include personnel from North Benton Ambulance and the Vinton Police Department and will soon include staff from Virginia Gay Hospital and the VSCSD. If any groups are interested in hosting a Stop the Bleed training anywhere in Benton County, contact Melissa Smith, Director of Home Health / Public Health, at msmith@vghinc.com or at 319-472-6360.