Kevin DelMastro, OSF SFMC Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, and Josh Balk, Educator for the Office of Disaster Preparedness at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, gave in-depth Stop The Bleed training to Sherrard high school and junior high staff Feb. 26.

The school has trauma kits in every classroom through a collaborative effort between Special Education teacher Michelle Rolsch and School Resource Officer Mike Mendoza - who raised the funds for trauma kits last school year.

Those kits include a tourniquet, gauze, CPR masks, gloves, trauma shears, and sharpies.

DelMastro said the purpose of the training is to prepare individuals for hemorrhage management in emergency situations until emergency personnel arrive at the scene.

“The true first responders are the lay-public.

“We’re trying to teach them … it’s going to hurt, but if you can put a bandaid on, you can put a tourniquet on and save lives.”

The training is funded by a grant through The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

Stop The Bleed Training will likely take place before the end of the school year for teachers and staff in the other schools in the district.

#Sherrardroars