Photo by James Short.
In 2024, all township public works, parks & recreation, and wastewater employees received the training and were issued individual bleeding control kits
Upper Gwynedd Township is taking a proactive step toward improving emergency preparedness with a new public safety initiative aimed at equipping residents and employees with lifesaving skills.
The Upper Gwynedd Police Department, Fire Marshal’s Office, and VMSC Emergency Medical Services have partnered to promote “Stop the Bleed” training throughout the community.
The initiative emphasizes the critical importance of immediate action in a bleeding emergency. With a person able to exsanguinate — or bleed to death — in just three to five minutes, and the national average for EMS response at eight-and-a-half minutes, officials are urging residents to learn how to intervene effectively.
By training individuals and providing essential equipment, Upper Gwynedd hopes to buy time for first responders and improve outcomes for trauma victims.
Stop the Bleed is a globally recognized program developed by the American College of Surgeons. It has already reached nearly four million people worldwide, and Upper Gwynedd Township is now joining that effort locally.
So far, the township has acquired two Bleeding Control Kits. One has been installed outside the public meeting room at the administration building, making it readily accessible to both police and administrative staff.
Housed in a wall cabinet like an AED or fire extinguisher, the kit contains eight individually packed units. Each includes a tourniquet, gauze, emergency trauma dressing, trauma shears, survival blanket, and gloves.
In 2024, all township Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and Wastewater employees received the training and were issued individual bleeding control kits.
Now, Corpus Christi Catholic School has agreed to participate in a pilot program, becoming the first school in the township to install a kit on-site.
Although Pennsylvania has yet to pass legislation mandating bleeding control equipment or training, 14 other states have implemented Stop the Bleed laws or resolutions. These laws often require kits in schools or government buildings or provide grant funding for training programs.
Upper Gwynedd Township will host a free Stop the Bleed training session on June 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room at 1 Parkside Place.
Residents interested in attending can email [email protected] for more information and watch for additional registration options via the township website and social media.
