Stop the Bleed Kits Improve School Safety

Thanks to a years-long collaborative effort, Buncombe County Schools staff members are much better prepared to deal with health crises in schools. On Friday, Oct. 1, Mission Health representatives delivered 2,489 Stop the Bleed kits at the BCS Central Office. These kits will be delivered to every classroom, school bus, and school resource officer. Also on Friday, BCS Assistant Superintendent Joseph Hough announced that all BCS staff members have been trained to use the kits.

Tim Reaves
BCS Communications Department

Thanks to a years-long collaborative effort, Buncombe County Schools staff members are much better prepared to deal with health crises in schools.

On Friday, Mission Health representatives delivered 2,489 Stop the Bleed kits at the BCS Central Office. These kits will be delivered to every classroom, school bus, and school resource officer. Also on Friday, BCS Assistant Superintendent Joseph Hough announced that all BCS staff members have been trained to use the kits.

“We’re excited,” he said. “It gives us one more tool in our effort to make safety and security the number one priority of Buncombe County Schools.”

Stop the Bleed (STB) is a national initiative created in 2011 to heighten the public’s awareness of, and ability to respond to, immediate life threats posed by major arterial bleeding. As part of a partnership between Mission Health and Stop the Bleed kit manufacturer North American Rescue (NAR), more than 4,300 kits at a cost of almost $200,000 are being gifted to schools in Buncombe, Macon, Mitchell, and McDowell counties.

The kits contain a military grade tourniquet, gloves, scissors, and other needed supplies, along with a step-by-step illustrated guide, said NAR Director of Public Safety Anthony Horton.

“These kits help protect kids, staff, and visitors to the schools,” he said. “The more people who have these kits and know how to use them, the more lives we can save in the critical time before medical professionals arrive at a scene.”

In 2019, BCS conducted a security and safety study that recommended arterial bleeding kits in every classroom. Thanks to these community partners, BCS has been able to reach that goal. Mission Health nurses, physicians, and physician assistants have conducted training seminars at BCS schools over the past two years.

“These kits are important, because they save lives,” said Mission Health Trauma Program Director Jackie Gosnell. “You might think of a worst-case scenario, but injuries can happen on the playground or the sports field. With a major bleed, the earlier the intervention the better the outcome.”

April Dockery, Asheville City Schools executive director of crisis management and operations, said Mission Health staff will begin Stop the Bleed trainings at Asheville City Schools next week.

“Having this extra resource on our campuses to support our children and staff is essential,” she said. “We’re grateful for our partnerships with Mission Health and Buncombe County Schools to make this a reality for all our children and staff.”

View coverage from WLOS ABC News 13.

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