Senate Resolution No. 2278

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 2024, as STOP THE BLEED Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long- standing traditions, this Legislative Body hereby memorializes
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2024, as STOP THE BLEED Month in
the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National
STOP THE BLEED Month; and

WHEREAS, Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under
the age of 46; the top cause of preventable death in trauma is bleeding;
20% of people who have died from traumatic injuries could have survived
with quick bleeding control; 35% of pre-hospital deaths are due to blood
loss; and

WHEREAS, 80% of victims in a mass casualty event are transported to
the hospital by members of the public; and

WHEREAS, Because a trauma victim can bleed to death within five
minutes before professional emergency care arrives, the program teaches
citizens bleeding-control methods developed by the military and first
responders to help citizens become immediate responders; and

WHEREAS, The initiative was created in the wake of the 2012 mass
shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School; the American College of
Surgeons convened senior health care and public safety leaders to
produce a program that will improve survival for victims suffering from
bleeding injuries, and their review led to development of the STOP THE
BLEED campaign; and

WHEREAS, When a person is losing blood, every minute counts, and the
STOP THE BLEED campaign of the American College of Surgeons is informing
Americans and connecting Bleeding Control instructors with interested
citizens throughout the year, with a particular emphasis during the
month of May, which includes the American College of Emergency
Physician's EMS Week, May 19-25, 2024; New York State has some of the
busiest STOP THE BLOOD programs in the country; and

WHEREAS, In New York, implementation of the program is being guided
by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the New York
Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; and

WHEREAS, STOP THE BLEED also provides kits for sale that include
such tools as tourniquets, dressings, and topical hemostatic agents to
help bystanders offer swift assistance at the scene of a mass casualty
or other incident; and

WHEREAS, These trauma kits can be affixed to walls in public places,
much like the cardiac defibrillators with which most modern buildings
are furnished; and

WHEREAS, The STOP THE BLEED campaign is empowering citizens across
the country to save lives in situations when time is of the absolute
essence; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2024, as STOP THE
BLEED Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National STOP THE BLEED Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.