Campus Safety is collaborating with the Nursing Program to roll out new emergency medical kits designed to stop blood loss during medical emergencies, located at strategic locations across campus.
“Stop the Bleed” kits are self-service medical kits that can be used to stop bleeding and can be administered effectively by students, faculty or the general public, without professional medical supervision.
The kits are provided by “Stop the Bleed,” a program operated by the American College of Surgeons under a licensing agreement with the United States Department of Defense.
The kits will include an instructional booklet, a tourniquet, a Z-fold hemostatic gauze dressing, a permanent marker, a pair of large responder nitrile gloves, responder flat dressing, a compact chest seal (vented) twin pack, large responder trauma shears and an emergency survival blanket (52 inches by 84 inches).
An email sent to KSC community members on Friday, Sept. 6 included a link to a YouTube instructional video on how to use the kits. According to the email, in-person training courses will be offered.
Nursing Department Chair Sharon Breidt said the dates of in-person training will be announced soon, and the initiative plans to gauge community interest by hosting an informational table.
“The table will have information on the training, and we’re hoping to spread the word about the kits. We want people to come to these training sessions, and get a chance to have hands-on experience with these kits,” said Breidt.
“We want people to know how to use these life-saving kits when they need to. It’s our responsibility as citizens and community members to arm ourselves with the knowledge to intervene and utilize these resources when the moment arises,” Breidt added.
The kits will be available alongside locations that already have Automated External Defibrillator (AED) kits. Breidt encouraged students to take responsibility for learning the locations of AED emergency kits on the KSC campus. Currently, campus maps do not include the locations of AED emergency equipment. Director of Campus Safety and Compliance Christopher Buckley said the Campus Safety website will be updated to include this information.
“Right now, there isn’t a clear way for people to know where the AEDs are. This year, the safety department put up signs in buildings to inform people that an AED is present, but that information isn’t centralized,” said Breidt. “There are signs in the buildings as well, but it’s important for people to take the time to learn where these emergency devices are located on their own.”
Funding for the “Stop the Bleed” kits is a joint effort between the Nursing Program and the Department of Campus Safety. Both departments have offset financial resources from their budgets to accommodate the purchase of the emergency kits.
Director of Campus Safety Christopher Buckley stated support for the “Stop the Bleed” kits being installed in areas containing heavy machinery.
“I’m hoping that folks will attend the training sessions to further their emergency preparedness, and I’d really like to see the roll-out expanded to more locations such as the dining commons, and wherever machinery is located,” said Buckley.
Buckley said he hopes the campus community utilizes the opportunity to learn about these incoming safety measures.
“Knowledge is power, and taking the time to attend these training sessions and educating yourself on the available tools can make all the difference. These training sessions are an opportunity to prepare for situations you hope you never have to be in, but can make a world of difference if you are,” said Buckley.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
