SPONSOR:

Sen. Pinkney & Rep. K. Johnson

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 172

RECOGNIZING MAY 23, 2024, AS “STOP THE BLEED DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, when a person is losing blood, every minute counts, and the Stop the Bleed campaign of the American College of Surgeons is informing Americans about vital measures to aid trauma victims; and

WHEREAS, the initiative was created in the wake of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School; the American College of Surgeons convened senior health care and public safety leaders to produce a program that will improve survival for victims suffering from bleeding injuries, and their review led to the development of the Stop the Bleed campaign; and

WHEREAS, the Stop the Bleed Project was founded to develop programs that engage people and organizations to take action against the preventative death of uncontrolled bleeding; and

WHEREAS, in Delaware, implementation of the program is being guided by members of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the Delaware Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; and

WHEREAS, because a trauma victim can bleed to death within three to five minutes, before professional emergency care arrives, the program teaches citizens bleeding-control methods developed by the military and first responders to help citizens become immediate responders; and

WHEREAS, approximately 40% of trauma-related deaths worldwide are due to bleeding or its consequences, establishing hemorrhage as the most common cause of preventable death in trauma; and

WHEREAS, “Stop the Bleed Day” aims to reduce mortality rates by ensuring that more people are trained and equipped to intervene promptly and effectively in bleeding emergencies, thereby increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes for trauma victims; and

WHEREAS, the Stop the Bleed campaign also provides kits that include such tools as tourniquets, dressings, and topical hemostatic agents to help bystanders offer swift assistance at the scene of a mass casualty or other incidents; and

WHEREAS, these trauma kits can be affixed to walls in public places, much like the cardiac defibrillators with which most modern buildings are furnished; and

WHEREAS, “Stop the Bleed Day” educates participants on how to recognize and respond to life-threatening bleeding effectively, promotes preparedness for mass casualty incidents, raises public awareness about the prevalence and impact of traumatic injuries, and encourages community involvement and collaboration in promoting public safety; and

WHEREAS, the Stop the Bleed campaign plays a crucial role in promoting public health, enhancing community resilience, and saving lives by empowering citizens across the country with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to stop life-threatening bleeding in emergency situations when time is of the absolute essence.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that May 23, 2024, is hereby recognized as “Stop the Bleed Day” in Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State encourages all Delaware citizens to participate in the initiative and learn more about the importance of bleeding-control measures.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes May 23, 2024, as “Stop the Bleed Day” in Delaware.

Author: Senator Pinkney