This Year’s STOP THE BLEED® Day – a Huge Success!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

We had an incredible STOP THE BLEED® Day this year!

We saw people across the nation and around the world get involved in this year’s STOP THE BLEED® Day activities. Thank YOU for supporting the STOP THE BLEED® campaign this year. Whether you Raised Your Hand, shared your STOP THE BLEED® story, trained others, got trained, or spread the word about the campaign within your community, we couldn’t do it without you!

STOP THE BLEED® Project Grant Program Applications Close Soon – Free Training Equipment

STOP THE BLEED® Project

STOP THE BLEED® Grant Program Applications are due Sunday, May 31st at 11:59pm EST! Receive FREE Training Equipment! U.S. Organizations who apply could receive free STOP THE BLEED® Training Equipment.

To be Eligible for a Grant:

1. Grant applicants must have been issued a STOP THE BLEED® Educational License or have an application pending.
2. Grant Applicants must be organizations based in the United States.
3. Organizations that have previously received a grant are not eligible to apply.

How Bystander Intervention in Bleeding Emergencies Affects EMS Care – the Impact of STOP THE BLEED®

EMS 1 | Stop The Bleed Coalition

The Stop The Bleed Coalition team submitted a special byline to EMS1 in honor of STOP THE BLEED® Day specifically covering how STOP THE BLEED® intervention effects EMS procedure and hospital hand off.

“The call comes in as a stabbing. By the time the crew arrives, a man is on the ground with a tourniquet already applied. It’s tight and positioned about two inches above the wound. A bystander crouches next to him, phone in hand, visibly shaken but focused. She tells the paramedic exactly when she applied it.

The quick actions she learned in a STOP THE BLEED® class just saved his life. EMS arrived 9 minutes after the stabbing, and a person can bleed out from a life-threatening wound in as little as 3-5 minutes. In the United States, approximately 40,000 people die each year from traumatic bleeding, and many of these deaths could have been prevented if someone on the scene knew what to do and took the appropriate action.

Scenes like this are exactly what the STOP THE BLEED program was designed to make possible…” Read the full article at EMS1

Michigan State Representative Dave Prestin Announces Resolution Declaring Thursday of EMS Week Official STOP THE BLEED® Day in Michigan

Michigan House Republicans

Dave Prestin announced a resolution recognizing the annual Thursday of EMS Week as STOP THE BLEED® Day in Michigan. As a paramedic, he reflected on the importance of everyday people being prepared for a bleeding emergency and empowering themselves and highlighted the life saving skills gained from STOP THE BLEED® training.

Watch the announcement.

STOP THE BLEED® Month Starts in ONE WEEK!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

Mark your calendars! We’re officially ONE WEEK AWAY from STOP THE BLEED® Month and less than a month away from the 9th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Day on May 21 2026, a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to learn the knowledge and skills to save lives in an emergency and spreading awareness for the STOP THE BLEED® campaign.

This year’s STOP THE BLEED® Month features several opportunities for STOP THE BLEED® Instructors, Licensed Organizations, and members of the public including:

• The second annual STOP THE BLEED® Trainathon, powered by the STOP THE BLEED® Training Management System
• The annual STOP THE BLEED® Grant Program that provides Licensed Organizations the opportunity to receive training kit grants
• The “Raise Your Hand”, “#MySTOPTHEBLEEDStory”, and “Would You Know” social media awareness programs
• A STOP THE BLEED® Quiz to test and expand public knowledge of bleeding control
• Resources for individuals and organizations to help expand campaign awareness

Visit stopthebleedproject.org for the full list of programs and activities!

Rossville Students Learn STOP THE BLEED® Skills

Lafayette Journal & Courier | April 6, 2026

Students at Rossville Middle and High School recently took part in a hands-on STOP THE BLEED® training program, learning how to respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Working alongside local EMS professionals, participants practiced critical skills such as applying direct pressure, packing wounds, and using tourniquets to control severe bleeding. Educators emphasized that uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death, with victims potentially dying within minutes without intervention. By bringing this training into schools, the program aims to empower young people with the confidence and ability to act in emergencies.

Read the full article here

Schuyler County schools prepare for Stop the Bleed law with community support

KTVO | April 23, 2026

Beginning next school year, a new Stop The Bleed law will require all public and charter schools in Missouri to implement STOP THE BLEED® protocols which includes installing bleeding control kits and hosting STOP THE BLEED® training. Schools in Schuyler County are already preparing to implement these new safety requirements, with strong support from local emergency services and community partners. The initiative will place bleeding-control kits in schools and ensure staff and community members are trained to respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Local officials emphasize that in rural areas, where EMS response times may be longer, immediate action by those on scene can be critical to survival. As the program rolls out, it reflects a growing commitment to equipping schools and communities with the tools and knowledge needed to save lives when seconds matter.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

SAVE THE DATE! STOP THE BLEED® Day is less than 2 months away!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

Mark your calendars! We’re less than 2 months away from the 9th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Day on May 21 2026, a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to learn the knowledge and skills to save lives in an emergency and spreading awareness for the STOP THE BLEED® campaign.

We’ll be announcing all the ways that people can participate on STOP THE BLEED® Day as well as during STOP THE BLEED® Month (May 2026).  There is literally something for everyone – training opportunities, how to help us create more awareness of STOP THE BLEED®, among other things.

Stay tuned for our upcoming announcements in the weeks ahead so you have plenty of time to pick and choose how to be part of this important day.

NDSU Expands Rural Stop the Bleed Training Across North Dakota

News Dakota | March 2nd, 2026

North Dakota State University Extension and the NDSU School of Nursing have partnered to offer free Stop the Bleed trainings across rural North Dakota communities, with their third year of the program kicking off in Barnes County on March 4. Nursing faculty have traveled to North Dakota counties and worked with NDSU Extension agents to conduct the trainings. Because of the state’s rurality, the time it takes first responders to reach an injured person can be critical to survival. The program also aims to certify community members as Stop the Bleed instructors so that training can continue even after the current grant funding ends.

Photo: Katherine Plessner

Read the full article here

Bleeding control training through UK HealthCare empowers bystanders to save lives

FOX 56 Lexington | March 1, 2026 | Allie Root

UK HealthCare’s Trauma Program is offering free Stop the Bleed workshops to equip community members with lifesaving skills, with Trauma Medical Director Dr. Andrew Bernard noting that bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death among young Kentuckians. The workshops use a hands-on approach teaching wound pressure, gauze packing, and tourniquet application — drawing participants from everyday community members to competitive shooters preparing for worst-case scenarios.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

STOP THE BLEED® Save: How a Tourniquet and Training Saved Emery’s Life

CookChildren’s Checkup Newsroom | February 10, 2026

After a serious dirt bike crash left young Emery with a catastrophic leg injury, first responders quickly applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding, a step doctors say ultimately saved her life. Trauma specialists later emphasized that severe blood loss can become fatal within minutes, making rapid intervention at the scene essential. Emery’s survival highlights how access to bleeding-control tools and training through programs like STOP THE BLEED® can make the difference between life and death. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that when bystanders and responders are prepared, they can act decisively and save lives before patients ever reach the hospital.

Read the full article here

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Spearheads “Stop the Bleed” Training at Level II Trauma Center

Naval Medical Center | January 29, 2026

At Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, trauma teams are expanding community training through the Stop the Bleed program to ensure civilians can respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Participants learn hands-on skills such as applying direct pressure, packing wounds, and properly using tourniquets — techniques proven to prevent deaths from severe blood loss. As a Level II trauma center, the hospital is positioning bleeding-control education as a critical part of public preparedness and emergency response. The effort reinforces the message that when communities are trained and equipped, ordinary people can take extraordinary action to save lives in those first crucial minutes.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

Missouri Legislation Requires STOP THE BLEED® Kits in Schools and Annual STOP THE BLEED® Training

KY3 News | December 29, 2025

Missouri’s new Stop the Bleed Act, signed into law in July 2025, will require all public schools to place bleeding control kits in high-traffic areas like gyms, cafeterias, and auditoriums and designate at least one staff member per school to receive annual Stop the Bleed training when it takes effect in 2026. The law aims to empower school personnel to provide immediate life-saving interventions, like applying tourniquets and packing wounds, before first responders arrive — especially in rural areas with longer EMS response times. Additionally, staff who use the kits in good faith are protected from civil liability, helping reduce hesitation to act in emergencies.

Read the full article here

STOP THE BLEED® Spotlight – Trilogy Redmond Ridge Community Training

Washington | January 2026

We’re excited to spotlight the incredible work being done to promote STOP THE BLEED® education and preparedness.

A few words from lead STOP THE BLEED® Instructor Polly Roush:

“I’m proud to serve as a member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in Redmond, WA. As the lead instructor for our community’s Stop the Bleed® program, I have the privilege of working alongside 20 volunteer instructors who share a commitment to improving our neighborhood’s readiness and resilience.

To date, we’ve trained over 370 residents through free classes offered at our community clubhouse. These classes are made possible with the support of the Trilogy Board, which provided the required equipment necessary to conduct the training. The Stop the Bleed® program, a national initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Defense and the American College of Surgeons, empowers individuals to provide immediate, life-saving care for severe bleeding until professional help arrives.

This initiative demonstrates how collaboration, education, and community engagement can strengthen safety for everyone. I’m incredibly proud of our neighbors for their willingness to learn and prepare, and of our volunteers and community leadership for making this program possible.

If your community doesn’t yet have a Stop the Bleed® program, I encourage you to explore starting one. It’s a simple, practical way to make a real difference when seconds count.”

Champaign County’s STOP THE BLEED® training hopes to save lives

WTDN 2 News | January 2026

Champaign County in Ohio has launched a countywide Stop the Bleed initiative that will train all local law enforcement officers on bleeding control techniques and equip every patrol vehicle with standardized bleeding control kits, with training beginning in early January 2026 and kits expected to be operational shortly thereafter. The program, led by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, also includes educational sessions for 911 dispatchers, EMS staff, and key community partners to strengthen emergency response collaboration. Future plans aim to expand training opportunities to schools, businesses, and other community groups to enhance overall preparedness in the region.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

The STOP THE BLEED® community continues to grow—fast. With more instructors and organizations delivering lifesaving training in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods around the country, the Coalition has been focused on building the tools, resources, and support systems that make teaching easier and more effective.

Today, we’re excited to announce several important updates designed specifically for our licensed STOP THE BLEED® instructors and the organizations that help bring this training to their communities.

A Streamlined Instructor Licensing Experience

One of the biggest changes this year is the modernization of the instructor licensing program.

Instructor applications are now fully integrated into the STOP THE BLEED® Training Management System (TMS).
This upgrade does three big things:

• Creates a one-stop home for all instructor information and credentials
  
• Streamlines the application and renewal process
  
• Makes profile editing and updates significantly easier, allowing instructors to manage their information at any time, from any device
  

This shift is a direct response to instructor feedback and part of our broader effort to raise standards, improve efficiency, and ensure that every licensed instructor has the support they need to succeed.

Our First On-Demand Webinar in Spanish — Free and Available Now

As part of our commitment to expanding access, we’ve released our first on-demand STOP THE BLEED® webinar in Spanish.

This new free resource:

• Supports Spanish-speaking instructors and learners
  
• Expands our growing library of Spanish-language materials
  
• Helps ensure that language is never a barrier to learning how to save a life
  

More Spanish-language resources are already in development, and we look forward to releasing them throughout the year.

A Growing Ambassador Community — Now More Than 4,500 Strong

The STOP THE BLEED® Ambassador Program continues to gain momentum. What started as a small group of passionate advocates has now grown into a community of more than 4,500 Ambassadors nationwide.

Ambassadors play an essential role by:

• Raising awareness in their communities
  
• Sharing training opportunities
  
• Promoting preparedness through social media and local engagement
  
• Helping bring STOP THE BLEED® to new organizations, schools, and workplaces
  

Their enthusiasm and grassroots energy amplify the work of instructors and help drive the movement forward.

More To Come

These updates are part of a larger effort to strengthen the foundation of the STOP THE BLEED® program and support everyone who teaches, shares, or champions this life-saving training. Over the coming months, we’ll continue releasing new tools, resources, and platform enhancements—all designed to help instructors and organizations deliver training more efficiently, reach more people, and create more resilient communities.

If you’re a licensed instructor or organization partner, keep an eye on your inbox for additional updates.

 If you’re new to STOP THE BLEED®, now is a great time to get involved.

Together, we’re building a stronger, more prepared nation—one class, one instructor, and one Ambassador at a time.

Justin Gardiner’s Spotlight:

Veteran Justin Gardiner enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006. He served as an infantryman with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. While on deployment to Afghanistan, Gardiner was wounded in action. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart Medal for his service and sacrifice.

“I joined the Army in 2006 as an Infantryman and was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. I deployed with the “Sky Soldiers” to Afghanistan where I was subsequently wounded in action, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart Medal. This is what inspired me to get involved with the Stop the Bleed campaign. Having witnessed firsthand the importance of recognizing and stopping life threatening bleeding and the benefits of tactical casualty care, I knew it was important to help spread that awareness and teach others the same techniques and life saving measures I learned while serving.”

Gardiner was inspired to join the Stop the Bleed® program after his experiences in combat underscored the critical importance of recognizing and stopping life-threatening bleeding. His firsthand exposure to tactical casualty care motivated him to share those lifesaving skills with civilians. Gardiner is now committed to teaching the same techniques he learned in the military to help others be prepared in emergencies.

Gardiner has taught Stop the Bleed®, Active Violence Response, and Officer Safety Courses for the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) for several years. He was also the recipient of the first-ever Instructor of the Year Award from CACEO.

Read the full article

Gilbert Agaran’s Spotlight:

Veteran Gilbert Agaran served as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. He separated from active duty in January of 2002 and is now a licensed Stop the Bleed® Coalition instructor. During is military experience, he acted in high-pressure environments where immediate medical response was critical.

“During my time as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, I served alongside Marines and sailors in environments where immediate medical response often made the difference between life and death. That experience taught me the critical importance of staying calm under pressure and acting quickly to control severe bleeding. When I transitioned into civilian life, I knew I wanted to carry that mission forward—teaching others lifesaving skills through the STOP THE BLEED® campaign felt like a natural way to continue serving and empowering communities to be ready when seconds matter.”

Military medical experience inspired him to continue his commitment to lifesaving care after transitioning to civilian life. Agaran chose to carry forward that mission by teaching with the Stop the Bleed® campaign. He is passionate about empowering communities with skills that save lives when seconds matter.

Agaran is dedicated to making Stop the Bleed® training widely available beyond classroom settings. He actively contributes to community preparedness and resilience through collaborative efforts with local agencies. As part of his commitment to healthcare and readiness, Agaran has expanded Stop the Bleed® training in the western Tidewater region of Virginia to include Suffolk, Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.

Agaran has trained hundreds of individuals, including teachers, staff and everyday citizens. In addition, his work has built strong partnerships with local health departments and emergency response teams to increase training accessibility and community impact.

Read the full article

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma.

It only takes an average of 3-5 minutes for a person to bleed out, yet it takes an average of 7-10 minutes for first responders to arrive on the scene.

This means it is crucial to make sure people are prepared to step in and save a life if they encounter a life-threatening bleed.

Emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye, are you and your loved ones prepared?

Preparedness Starts at Home, the 2025 theme, focuses on getting back to the essentials of preparedness. Here are four key actions you can take to prepare for any disaster you may face:

Know your risk

Know what could happen where you and your family live. This helps you figure out what you need to do to stay safe. You can explore various disasters and emergencies on Ready.gov.  

Make a family emergency plan

Making a plan early helps you reduce stress and save time and money. Follow four easy steps and create a free Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily with our fillable form.

Disasters are costly but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. Taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs. Visit Ready.gov’s low and no-cost tip page to see how you can be better prepared without spending a lot of money.

Build an emergency supply kit

Having enough food, water and medicine can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Having what you need can also prevent injury and damage to your home.

Build a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don’t need to scramble in an evacuation situation. Find a list of supplies at Build A Kit.

Get involved in your community by taking a STOP THE BLEED® class

Emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. You may be able to save a life by learning STOP THE BLEED® skills to save someone’s life in the case of a life-threatening bleed.

Get a STOP THE BLEED® Kit

In addition to preparing an Emergency Supply Kit, we encourage you to purchase a Department of Defense Licensed STOP THE BLEED® Kit for your family to make sure you have all of the tools at hand to stop a life-threatening bleed.

We only offer military grade Department of Defense approved STOP THE BLEED® Kits.

Why?

In the event of a bleeding emergency, you want to know that you have equipment that will work. There is cheaper equipment in the marketplace, but if you want to have confidence that the equipment you purchase will work when someone’s life is at stake, make sure it carries the STOP THE BLEED® mark.  If it doesn’t say STOP THE BLEED®, it might not work when the time comes.

Stop The Bleed Coalition | July 2025

The STOP THE BLEED® program has reached a major milestone: over 5 million people trained in life-saving bleeding control techniques. Designed to empower everyday citizens, the program teaches simple, emergency actions—like applying pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet—that can save lives before professional help arrives.

With updated course materials, growing public awareness, and legislative momentum encouraging the placement of bleeding control kits in public spaces, the program continues to expand. Schools, sports venues, and government buildings are increasingly installing kits and offering training to staff and students, making communities safer and better prepared for emergencies.

Life-Saving Skills Taught by Amputee Instructor Vansh Patel

WALB News 10 | Zoe Wells | June 17, 2025

A year after losing his arm in a car crash, Deerfield‑Windsor graduate Vansh Patel is co-teaching STOP THE BLEED® classes with Phoebe Putney Health System and Dougherty County EMS.

The 45-minute workshops, offered in public and private schools, teach students vital techniques like tourniquet use and wound packing. Patel shares the real-world impact of the training:

“A simple tourniquet class that would have taken 30 minutes was enough to save my life.”

With 250 kits deployed in public schools—and additional kits for private schools—the program is spreading preparedness and hope throughout the community.

Read the full article here

Teaching Teens Emergency Response at Summer Camp

Spectrum 1 News | Sabriel MetCalf | July 3, 2025

This summer, ONE Lexington is helping teens gain critical emergency response skills through its “It Takes a Village” camp. Over 150 teens, ages 13–17, learned STOP THE BLEED® techniques and CPR, gaining hands-on practice in life-saving skills.

Camp leader Tania Walker highlights the urgency of timely bleeding control:

“It only takes seconds, minutes to bleed out,” emphasizing the importance of immediate intervention.

By combining recreational activities with expert-led sessions, the camp ensures teens learn essential skills while having fun. Preparing young people to act quickly in emergencies strengthens the community’s overall resilience and safety.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading! We’ll see you next month.

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

STOP THE BLEED® Day 2025: What a Day for Life-Saving Action

Stop The Bleed Coalition | May 2025

May 22, 2025, marked an incredible milestone for the STOP THE BLEED® program. This year’s STOP THE BLEED® Day was our most impactful yet, with unprecedented participation, visibility, and life-saving action.

From bustling cities to small towns, and from classrooms to trauma centers, individuals and organizations united to say: “I’m ready to save a life.”

This year’s campaign featured the first STOP THE BLEED® Trainathon using the Training Management System, inspiring tens of thousands to:

• Take a STOP THE BLEED® class
  
• Watch an official training video
  
• Complete the STOP THE BLEED® Quiz
  

This effort is only possible because of our incredible network of partners, advocates, and volunteers, including:

• Licensed STOP THE BLEED® instructors teaching people worldwide
  
• Schools, workplaces, and civic groups hosting community training events
  
• Media outlets, influencers, and public health leaders amplifying our message
  
• STOP THE BLEED® Ambassadors reaching new audiences in their communities
  

We are proud to support and be part of these efforts, helping communities everywhere prepare for emergencies.

A Life-Saving STOP THE BLEED® Moment: Kevin’s Story

Moravia Fire & Rescue | May 2025

On May 13, Moravia Fire and Rescue responded to a critical emergency: a man named Kevin had been run over by a brush cutter and lost both legs. Eight volunteer firefighters responded immediately, knowing that uncontrolled bleeding can be fatal in minutes.

En route, tourniquets were prepared from jump bags, ready for use. Remarkably, Kevin was able to wave them down despite his injuries. The EMS crew applied life-saving tourniquets, stabilized him with the help of Centerville Fire & Rescue, and he was airlifted to Mercy Des Moines for advanced trauma care.

In the days following, the team eagerly awaited updates. On Monday, they received the news: Kevin was recovering well and wanted to meet the team who saved his life.

The reunion was emotional, filled with gratitude and reflection. Kevin shared his plans to get back on the golf course, rebuild his home, and move forward with the same courage he displayed during the accident. He emphasized:

“I appreciate everything everyone does. This is your life, but you SAVED mine.”

Kevin’s story underscores the profound impact of STOP THE BLEED® training, reminding us all why knowing how to control life-threatening bleeding matters.

ZOLL: Supporting Life-Saving Training as a Corporate Sponsor

Stop The Bleed Coalition | June 10, 2025

We are proud to welcome ZOLL as a 2025 corporate sponsor. A global leader in acute critical care, ZOLL develops innovative medical devices and software that empower both professionals and laypeople to respond effectively in emergencies.

From defibrillation to CPR feedback and data management, ZOLL’s technologies support rapid response and better outcomes—aligning perfectly with the STOP THE BLEED® mission. Their support helps expand access to life-saving training and equipment, ensuring more people are prepared to act when seconds matter.

Missouri Passes New STOP THE BLEED® Legislation

Stop The Bleed Coalition | June 2025

Missouri’s Stop the Bleed Act aims to enhance emergency preparedness in schools by equipping staff and facilities to respond to traumatic bleeding incidents. Passed by both the House and Senate, the bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.

Key Provisions Include:

• Bleeding Control Kits: Schools must place kits in high-traffic areas such as cafeterias, auditoriums, and vocational classrooms.
  
• Training Requirements: School personnel receive annual training in bleeding control techniques.
  
• Protocol Development: DESE will create a traumatic blood loss protocol by January 1, 2026.
  
• Maintenance & Restocking: Kits must be inspected annually and promptly restocked after use.
  
• Liability Protection: School staff using kits in good faith are protected from civil liability, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
  

Travis Coleman discussed this legislation in a recent STOP THE BLEED® podcast, highlighting his work to make schools safer.