Austin City Council Members Propose Life-Saving Program for High Schools

In advance of the 20^th anniversary of the horrific April 20, 1999, mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, Council Members on Thursday, Feb. 7, will call for initiating a life-saving Stop the Bleed program at all high schools serving City of Austin Students.

Council Members Leslie Pool, Jimmy Flannigan, Ann Kitchen, Pio Renteria, and Alison Alter are sponsoring a resolution on the City Council agenda (Item 33), which would direct staff to provide fiscal year 2020 budgetary and program recommendations that include the estimated cost of Stop the Bleed kits, and associated costs for staffing the daily operations of the Explorer Post 247.

Explorer Post 247 is an Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services organization that works with youth to help them learn about careers in the EMS field. As the resolution proposes, the Explorer group would provide training and manage the program in the high schools.

Stop the Bleed trains and empowers individuals to help mitigate a bleeding emergency in the event of a shooting or other disastrous event. Stop the Bleed kits include tourniquets, bandages, gloves, and other emergency items.

The resolution was drafted with input from EMS Chief Ernesto Rodriguez and Selena Xie, president of the Austin EMS Association. Xie emphasized the significance of the program.

“As a medic, I know that every minute counts when it comes to uncontrolled bleeding,” she said. “We must empower our students on how to act in a life-threatening event. Stop the Bleed and other similar efforts have been extremely effective in saving lives until medics can reach the victims.”

Council Member Pool added, “It’s often simple actions, such as tying a tourniquet or applying other bleeding-control aids, that can result in dramatic positive outcomes, making the difference between life and death.”

Noting the important work of the Explorer 247 organization, Council Member Flannigan said, “I’m so proud of Explorer Post 247 and their Stop the Bleed program. It is imperative that we support these programs with dedicated staff and resources for students across Austin and our many school districts. What a profound legacy to leave for our youth.”

“Stop the Bleed is a proven life-saving program, and making it available is one way we can be proactive about public health in the face of potential emergencies,” said Council Member Kitchen. “Expanding the relationship between EMS and our youth through Explorer Post 247 will have long-term benefits for our community health, our schools, and EMS.”

“In the event of the unimaginable, minutes matter,” said Council Member Alter. “Stop the Bleed trainings are quick and simple, and we know the program’s techniques can save lives. As parents and as leaders of our city, we must remain committed to protecting our children while we work to eradicate the threat of gun violence in schools.”

Council Member Renteria noted the importance of local governments taking proactive measures to be prepared in the event of a school shooting or other disastrous event.

“With the State shirking its responsibility to protect our students despite the increasing violence in schools, sanctuaries, and other places where Austinites should feel safe, our city must empower students to make a difference in a life-threatening emergency,” Council Member Renteria said.