Thousands of small, red, life-saving kits and information on how to use them will soon be spread throughout Broward County thanks to the efforts of the City of Hollywood Department of Fire Rescue and Beach Safety and Memorial Healthcare System.
The two teamed up to promote a national effort to give ordinary people the tools they need to respond to traumatic injuries caused by accidents or acts of public violence. The city and the hospital system obtained $73,000 in grant funding to purchase life-saving bleeding control kits and to train individuals with no medical background on how to use them.
This morning Hollywood Fire Rescue personnel distributed the $42 kits to Fire Rescue agencies from nearly every municipality within Broward County, as well as Broward County Fire Rescue. Memorial Healthcare System staff provided an overview on how to use the first aid items in the kit. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes. Those nearest to them can help prevent loss of life by providing initial care.
The idea is to install the bleeding control kits in highly visible locations where people commonly gather from parks and community centers to schools. Last year, Hollywood installed 115 kits in public areas throughout the city from City Hall to the ArtsPark at Young Circle to sports facilities and community centers.
“The success of the Stop the Bleed program so far in Hollywood has been tremendous. We have the kits in place now, many residents are trained to use them and we’ve raised awareness in our community. We want every member of our community to have this life-saving tool at their disposal and the knowledge to use it. It’s their action that might help save a life,” said Chris Del Campo, Hollywood Fire Rescue Division Chief who spearheaded the effort to secure grant funding for the kits.