Public Access Stop the Bleed Kits Will Be Installed in Every HCPSS School and HCPSS Administration Buildings due to impactful investments made by Howard the County
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, along with members of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS) and the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS), recently announced the launch of STOP THE BLEED training for HCPSS staff.
“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,” said Ball. “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.”
The number one cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. The STOP THE BLEED campaign, a federal initiative, was started to build national resilience by better preparing the public to save lives by raising awareness of basic actions to stop life threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies and man-made and natural disasters. Anyone can take the course to get certified.
“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. I want to thank County Executive Ball, Dr. Levy and Superintendent Barnes for their ongoing partnership and support that make these types of impactful initiatives possible.”
In addition to training HCPSS staff, public access STOP THE BLEED kits will be installed in every Howard County Public School and HCPSS administrative buildings over the next few months.
High school students enrolled in Health I classes will also 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 (AEDs).
“Howard County was one of the first to implement a community wide Stop the Bleed (STB) program,” said Dr. 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.”
The STOP THE BLEED training is just the latest initiative Howard County has taken to equip the public to aid in life-threatening emergencies. In February 2024, County Executive Calvin Ball announced an additional 17 new AEDs throughout the Department of Recreation and Parks’ regional park system.
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