In a continued effort to enhance emergency preparedness and student safety, Plumas District Hospital, in collaboration with the Plumas County Public Health Agency, has expanded the installation of trauma kits in schools throughout the region. This initiative builds upon earlier efforts to equip educational institutions with essential life-saving tools, says PDH.
Leading this phase of the project are Zoe Stancer, safety officer at PDH, and Charles Schrammel, emergency preparedness coordinator for PCPHA. Their coordinated efforts have resulted in the distribution of trauma kits to schools within PDH’s health district, including Quincy Junior-Senior High School, Quincy Elementary School, Plumas Charter School, Plumas Christian School, Indian Valley Academy and Greenville Elementary School.
These trauma kits, designed to address severe bleeding emergencies, are part of the national Stop the Bleed campaign. Each kit contains tourniquets, gauze, trauma shears, gloves and instructional materials, enabling immediate response to life-threatening injuries, said PDH.
“Our goal is to ensure that every school is equipped to handle emergencies effectively,” said Stancer. “By providing these kits and training, we’re empowering staff and students to act swiftly and confidently during critical situations.”
Schrammel added, “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to community safety. By working together, we’re building a more resilient environment for our children.”
This initiative complements earlier installations of trauma kits in other schools across the county, a project that began following a full-scale active shooter exercise at local high schools. The initial phase saw kits installed at C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School in Portola and Portola Junior-Senior High School, with plans to extend to schools in the Quincy, Indian Valley and Chester areas by the end of May.
The collaborative effort involves local hospitals — Eastern Plumas Health Care, Plumas District Hospital and Seneca Healthcare District — purchasing the kits, while local emergency medical services and schools assist with installation and training.
PDH said that distribution of the kits included representatives from the California Highway Patrol, Plumas County Sheriff’s Office, Regional Emergency Medical Service Authoriy CareFlight, senior leadership from Plumas District Hospital and senior leadership from Plumas County Public Health Agency, “reflecting the strong, unified commitment across agencies to school and community safety.”
More information about Stop the Bleed is available at http://www.stopthebleed.org.