Stop The Bleed Education and Grant for Kits to Each School

(SHELBY, NC) - The HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County has partnered with Safe Kids Cleveland County, Local Law Enforcement agencies, and Cleveland County Schools to get necessary training and kits to local schools. The HealthCare Foundation has issued a grant that will allow for each school in Cleveland County to receive a wall mounted Stop the Bleed Kit placed at each AED Station for ease of location and use once the school has achieved 75% of its staff trained.

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of injury and death in children. The mission of Safe Kids Cleveland County is to "reduce these accidental injuries through a combination of advocacy, engineering, and enforcement."

Safe Kids Cleveland County is a non-profit coalition of over 45 local agencies comprised of local government, local law enforcement agencies, health and safety agencies, educators, businesses, and individuals dedicated to this mission and began as an effort to reduce childhood injuries and deaths that were occurring in our county.

Safe Kids Cleveland County is one of more than 600 coalitions affiliated with Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. Jessica Crawford, Safe Kids Cleveland County Coordinator has worked with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that each School Resource officer has been trained in the Stop the Bleed Course and are now instructors. This program is also available to any business, or group that may be interested in learning more about preventing life threatening bleeds.

The top three injuries according to local trauma data that affect children ages 0-18 are as follows: Motor vehicle crashes, falls, and gunshot wounds. School Resource Officer Mike Chapmen and the Shelby City Police department have helped train the staff at Elizabeth and Cleveland Early College in the effort to teach the public and our community how to respond to severe bleeding which can lead to death in as little as five minutes. The training takes about 60 minutes, and anyone can take this class in person or online with an in-person skills session. This training is beneficial to anyone who has the potential to get injured.

In the next phase, Safe Kids Cleveland County has partnered with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office to teach at Bethware Elementary. Other schools will be receiving the class from Kings Mountain Police Department as well as Boiling Springs Police department.

Cleveland County Schools Director of Communications Dr. Greg Shull has been instrumental in getting this program to the School Safety Committee with approval obtained to proceed with education. Dr. Shull also took the class and understands the importance this training to our schools, students, and staff.

The Foundation will maintain and allocate these funds within its currently established grant guidelines, working in close partnership with Safe Kids Cleveland County, Cleveland County Schools, and local law enforcement to order and deliver the Kits once each school has been trained.

The Healthcare Foundation of Cleveland County’s mission is to be a catalyst for promoting wellness and improving health in Cleveland County. “I can think of no better way to demonstrate our commitment to community health than to ensure we are prepared and ready to educate the staff of Cleveland County Schools while also giving them the necessary tools to respond if the need arises” said the Foundation's Executive Director Dick Baker.

In the past five years the HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County has awarded over $350,000 in grants to local non-profit organizations for projects and programs that improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health and wellbeing.

For more information on Stop the Bleed or on becoming an instructor please check out https://www.stopthebleed.org.

####The HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County and Safe Kids Cleveland County is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. All gifts are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.