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Local firefighters donate nearly 200 "Stop the Bleed" kits; board approves application for federal school violence prevention grant
Summary
A local firefighters association presented nearly 200 Stop the Bleed kits and will provide train‑the‑trainer instruction; the Harlem Consolidated School District board also voted to submit a School Violence Prevention Program grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Local firefighters announced a donation of nearly 200 Stop the Bleed kits for classrooms in the Harlem Consolidated School District and described plans to deliver train‑the‑trainer sessions for school staff. The board also approved submitting a School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office.
Rob Lukowski, a lieutenant paramedic introduced himself and the local firefighters involved and said the group’s golf fundraiser had raised approximately $170,000 over 11 years and "we've raised enough to purchase close to almost 200 stop the bleed kits, hopefully to outfit as many classrooms as possible." Chief John Bergeron and Chief Jay Almes, who co‑chair the fundraiser, joined the presentation.
Lukowski described the donors' intent: "We hope that these kits will never be used. We understand the hope is not planned. This is we need to be prepared." He said the firefighters will provide a train‑the‑trainer program, working with district administrators so a limited cohort of staff can be trained and then teach others.
Superintendent Troy Yarbrough and board members thanked the firefighters for the donation and emphasized the value of training and multi‑agency collaboration. Board members and staff said the kits and training are intended to preserve life and buy time for first responders in the unlikely event of a traumatic bleeding emergency.
On the same agenda, the district recommended and the board approved submitting an SVPP application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office to support school violence prevention efforts. The approval was recorded as a formal vote.
District officials said the Stop the Bleed equipment and training complement broader safety planning and interagency reunification exercises. No purchase or acceptance vote specific to the donated kits was recorded; firefighters presented the gift during the recognition portion of the meeting and district leaders expressed appreciation on the record.
The board asked administrators and the firefighters to coordinate on which staff will be trained and how training will be scheduled so the district can roll out the train‑the‑trainer sessions before the next school year.
