Georgia Trauma Commission Bleeding Control Kit Program

Prepared to Save Lives

STOP THE BLEED® is a public education program that teaches people how to stop severe bleeding in an emergency. It was created by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma after military doctors saw how life-saving tourniquets and quick action could be on the battlefield. They also found that people nearby can make a big difference by helping before emergency responders arrive.

The program first trained law enforcement officers, but it later became the Bleeding Control Basic (B-CON) course, which has been available to the public since 2014. After the Sandy Hook school shooting, experts recognized the need to teach more people these life-saving skills. This led to the Hartford Consensus and the nationwide growth of the STOP THE BLEED® program.

In March 2017, the Georgia Trauma Commission launched a statewide program to provide bleeding control kits and training to every Georgia public school and school bus. The program became a national model and has been copied by other states. Today, 99% of Georgia public schools and 97% of public school buses have received bleeding control kits and training. This success was made possible by volunteers from trauma centers, EMS, fire departments, and other organizations who trained people in their local communities.

In August 2022, the Georgia Trauma Commission expanded the program so government organizations could apply for bleeding control kits based on local needs. Regional Trauma Advisory Committees help decide where the kits go and support local training efforts. Since the program began, more than 50,000 bleeding control kits have been distributed across Georgia, and tens of thousands of people have learned how to control severe bleeding.

Program Impact

  • 50,000+ bleeding control kits distributed statewide
  • 99% of Georgia public schools have received bleeding control kits
  • 97% of Georgia public school buses have received bleeding control kits
  • 55% of Georgia counties have benefited from the expanded program
Learn more about the ACS STOP THE BLEED initiative here

Program Contacts

The Georgia Trauma Commission contracts with RTAC Coordinators to assist and coordinate the Georgia Trauma Commission Bleeding Control Program within each EMS Region.

View contact list here

Report Use of a GTC Bleeding Control Kit

Please complete this form to report the use of a Georgia Trauma Commission (GTC) Bleeding Control Kit. Your response helps us support ongoing efforts to improve care for injured Georgians and replace used kits.
 

Click here to report kit use

Bleeding Control Kit Application

The Georgia Trauma Commission provides funding to distribute a one-time allocation of bleeding-control kits to eligible organizations across Georgia.

Click here to learn more and apply

STB KIT

Eligible Organizations

In order of priority:

  1. Public K-12 Schools
  2. Public K-12 School Buses
  3. Other Public Education Institutions
  4. Law Enforcement
  5. Government Agencies

Organization Requirements

  • All participating organizations must have staff trained in STOP THE BLEED®. Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (RTAC) Coordinators provide this training at no cost to interested organizations.
  • Georgia public school systems and districts are encouraged to train as many school bus drivers, substitute drivers, and bus monitors as possible. Once training is complete, each school system or district will receive Georgia Trauma Commission Bleeding Control Kits based on the number of school buses in its fleet.
  • Organizations must have at least 10 staff members trained in STOP THE BLEED® before bleeding control kits can be distributed.
  • All participating organizations must sign a Participation Agreement before receiving training or bleeding control kits.


 

Purchase a Bleeding Control Kit

Organizations that do not qualify for the Georgia Trauma Commission Bleeding Control Kit Program, organizations that have previously received kits through the program, and interested individuals may purchase additional bleeding control kits at the Georgia Trauma Commission’s discounted contract rate through North American Rescue.

Note: The Georgia Trauma Commission does not sell bleeding control kits. Purchases can be made directly through North American Rescue at the Georgia Trauma Commission’s contracted rate.

Click here for kit purchase instructions

STOP THE BLEED Training & Instructors

Request In-Person STOP THE BLEED® Training

Any public or private organization in Georgia may request STOP THE BLEED® training. The Georgia Trauma Commission's Bleeding Control Kit Program and Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (RTAC) Coordinators will work to arrange training at your organization or connect you with local instructors and resources.

If your school, church, business, or other organization is interested in hosting a STOP THE BLEED® course, you can submit a training request.

Submit a Training Request

Start Teaching Life-Saving Skills

Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and other first responders, are eligible to become STOP THE BLEED® instructors. To get started, create an instructor account on the STOP THE BLEED® website. Registration provides access to the latest training materials, resources, and course updates.

ACS Instructor Portal

ACS Training Resources

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) offers free virtual STOP THE BLEED® training through its website. You can also use the website to find in-person training classes in your area.

Access ACS resources here