John Matthews
WMAL.com
ELLICOTT CITY, MD — (WMAL) The local jurisdiction known for urging its residents to “Choose Civility” is choosing not to rely on slogans to keep its residents safe.
Howard County is placing Bleeding Control kits in every county school, as well as libraries, community centers and government buildings, as a means to be prepared “during mass shootings and other casualty events,” according to a county press release.
“We’ve come up with a program to teach people to recognize severe bleeding, and about what steps they can take to control it, how to use the equipment in these bleeding control kits to hopefully save lives,” says Dr. Matthew Levy, the county’s Fire and Rescue Services Medical Director.
The kits include supplies to contain bleeding long enough for professional help to arrive, including gauze dressings, pressure bandages, tourniquets, gloves and scissors.
140 school health professionals were trained last week to use the kits as part of a “Stop The Bleeding” initiative.
According to the press release, Howard is the only county in Maryland, and one of the first in the country to join the initiative, which sets out to train members of the community to handle mass bleeding events on the notion that when tragic events occur, it’s members of the community who are truly the first responders.
“‘What steps can we take to be ready?’, is really what we’re talking about,” says Dr. Levy. “This is just another tool that we can use to heighten awareness should something really bad happen.”
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: U of MD CHHS)
