In a world where emergencies can happen when least expected, the power of preparation and community support cannot be underestimated. In Bay County, the Bay City Department of Public Safety is implementing a program that embodies both these values – the Stop the Bleed Project.
Funded by the Bay County Healthy Youth/Seniors Fund and the Youth Advisory Endowment Fund held at the Bay Area Community Foundation, the Stop the Bleed Project’s goal is as simple as it is crucial: to provide Stop the Bleed Kits to all schools within Bay County.
Stop the Bleed Kits contain lifesaving tools to handle significant bleed trauma if our schools are ever
confronted with an active shooter/mass casualty incident. These stations are not just for schools; they are also in place for our dedicated first responders, providing them with vital resources when they need them most. Each station provided to the Bay County Schools holds eight separate kits.
The project has recently outfitted all high schools and middle schools in Bay County with a station. However, the vision doesn’t stop there. Bay City Department of Public Safety’s next goal is to raise the necessary funds to outfit all elementary schools in our county with a station.
The impact of the Stop the Bleed project goes beyond just equipment. The Department of Public Safety will host numerous Stop the Bleed training sessions throughout the year, with a focus on the school districts within Bay County. They are also extending their training to various organizations across our community.
So far, the Department of Public Safety has trained staff and students from Bay City Public Schools, Bay Arenac ISD, Essexville – Hampton Public Schools, Pinconning Schools, Bangor Township Schools, Bay City Academy, State Street Academy, and several other organizations. In total, they’ve trained several thousand individuals in the lifesaving Stop the Bleed techniques.
Together, we’re not just preparing for emergencies; we’re building a safer, more resilient community where everyone has the knowledge and resources to make a difference in times of need.
To learn more about Stop the Bleed visit www.stopthebleed.org/. To inquire about ways in which you can support this project, please contact the Bay Area Community Foundation at 989-893-4438 or the Bay City Department of Public Safety at 989-892-8571.
I am proud to serve my community through my role at BACF. As a Program Officer, I collaborate with nonprofit, government, church, and school partners in Bay and Arenac counties to navigate our grant opportunities and find the right funding alignment. From project conception to post-award, I am your main contact for all things grants. Connecting organizations and donors who share the same vision and passion is at the heart of my work.
