Stop the Bleed kits donated to Manatee County School District by HCA Florida Blake Hospital

HCA Florida Blake Hospital donated Stop the Bleed kits to the Manatee County School District, ensuring every school bus is equipped to handle a critical bleeding emergency. Each kit includes a tourniquet, trauma shears, wound dressing and protective gloves to help control severe bleeding before professional help arrives.

In addition to providing these life-saving resources, Blake Hospital’s trauma team is delivering hands-on Stop the Bleed training to school bus drivers and attendants, empowering them to act quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency. This initiative builds upon an existing partnership with the school district, where Blake Hospital’s team has already trained all school nurses in the Stop the Bleed program.

“Emergencies can happen anywhere, and being prepared saves lives,” said Steve Young, CEO of HCA Florida Blake Hospital. “By donating Stop the Bleed kits and training school staff, we’re strengthening our community’s ability to respond in critical moments and bridge the gap until patients can reach the hospital for professional care.” 

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do in transportation,” said Jamie Warrington, director of transportation for the Manatee County School District. “Our drivers and attendants have an incredibly important job, and any additional tools or training that help keep students safe are well worth the time and investment.”

Severe bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death after a traumatic injury, and a person can die from blood loss in as little as 3–5 minutes. The Stop the Bleed program, launched in 2016 by the American College of Surgeons, has trained more than 5 million people globally. This national initiative teaches bystanders how to control severe bleeding in emergency situations; a critical skill that can save lives before professional help arrives.