Accidents happen. Whether it’s in P.E., shop class, or while learning to cook, a new state law better equips Missouri’s K-12 public schools to respond in cases of severe bleeding.
Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, led a legislative effort to pass the law requiring “Stop the Bleed” kits in schools.
“We used to believe that only doctors could save lives, but then we’ve come up with the Heimlich maneuver. We’ve come up with the AEDs,” Shields told Missourinet. “We’ve come up with CPR. And this is just another tool in the toolbox for normal everyday citizens that have received the training, can help someone, and can maintain their life until the professionals can get there.”
The kits include things like tourniquets, protective gloves, bleeding control bandages, and instructions.
“I think the stop the bleed kits are important to have in our schools and that we have our personnel trained because the last thing that we want is for someone to feel helpless,” said Shields.
The new state law requires annual training for at least one staff member.
“I was a teacher and there’s accidents that happen in schools,” she said. “Kids fall and fall downstairs. They have compact fractures. They can get hurt in shop class and I really thought it was important that we make sure all of our students in the state of Missouri are safe.”
Through this new Missouri law, funding will come from the state or through donations to schools. The kits must be in place by the end of the 2025-26 school year.
“One of the things that I hear a lot from my constituents is that they want to be able to send their child to school with confidence that their child will be safe. And that’s what we have to address as legislators – to make sure that every child that attends school can attend safe and can feel that they can concentrate on learning,” said Shields.
The kits are required to be in high-traffic areas.
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