Liberty Regional EMS participated in the Stop the Bleed training Jan. 2 for representatives from the Liberty County School System.

The training is coordinated by the Georgia Trauma Foundation’s Regional Trauma Advisory Committees (RTAC). Anna Anderson, a field training officer with Liberty Regional EMS and the chairperson for the RTAC Education Committee, is serving as one of the instructors.

According to the Georgia Trauma Foundation, the nationwide Stop the Bleed campaign includes a School Response Program designed to enable school teachers, nurses and staff to render immediate life-saving medical aid to injured students or co-workers while awaiting the arrival of professional responders.

It provides them with the knowledge gained by first responders and military, along with the necessary equipment to help save lives by stopping uncontrolled bleeding in emergency situations.

Last year, the Liberty County Sheriff's Department also received this training, which enables deputies to be better prepared to protect the community.

Trauma professionals from across the state lobbied state legislators to enable the Georgia Trauma Foundation to provide this program in the public school systems throughout Georgia. The Georgia General Assembly approved funding to train and equip all Georgia public schools with bleeding control kits.

The School Response Program funds the purchase of more than 29,000 of these kits, which will allow the opportunity for roughly 12 kits to be placed in every public school in Georgia, including the Liberty County School System, once training is complete.

In Liberty County, a private school will also benefit.