Iowa County Health Department provides ‘Stop the Bleed’ kits

The Iowa County Health Department has purchased and distributed Stop the Bleed kits to the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office and the Marengo and Williamsburg Police Departments, using Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant funding dedicated to community safety and emergency preparedness.

Earlier this year, the Health Department provided Stop the Bleed training to the Sheriff’s Office and identified that officers did not have the necessary medical supplies to respond to a life threatening bleeding emergency. Recognizing this gap, the Health Department secured funding to ensure every law enforcement officer in Iowa County is equipped with a lifesaving Stop the Bleed kit, along with a tourniquet for their duty belt.

Each Stop the Bleed kit contains bleeding control supplies, including tourniquets, wound-packing gauze, pressure bandages and protective gloves.

“Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading preventable causes of death after injury,” said Lori Sheeler, Iowa County Health Department Director.

In rural areas, law enforcement officers are often the first to arrive at the scene of serious incidents — including car crashes, farm injuries, accidental trauma or gunshot wounds.

With longer ambulance response times in rural settings, having the tools and knowledge to stop severe bleeding before EMS arrives can save lives. Severe bleeding can lead to death in just three to five minutes.

“These tools allow officers to control life-threatening bleeding quickly and effectively, helping stabilize patients during those crucial first minutes,” Sheeler said.

In addition to assisting law enforcement, the Health Department has partnered with all Iowa County school districts to provide Stop the Bleed kits for every classroom and has trained school staff how to use them.

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“By pairing training with the right tools, we are ensuring the school staff are prepared to respond in real emergencies,” said Sheeler.

The PHEP grant has also supported the installation of eight outdoor Automated External Defibrillator cabinets across Iowa County. These emergency stations not only provide access to an AED for cardiac emergencies, but also include a Stop the Bleed kit, giving communities immediate access to lifesaving tools for multiple types of medical emergencies.

Stop the Bleed is a program designed to teach people how to recognize and respond to severe bleeding emergencies using simple, proven techniques such as applying direct pressure, packing wounds, and using tourniquets.

The Iowa County Health Department plans to continue expanding Stop the Bleed education as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness in our farming community. Farmers, due to the nature of their work with heavy machinery, sharp tools and large animals, are at a higher risk of bleeding injuries.

Training is free and open to the community. To learn more or reserve a spot, call the Iowa County Health Department at 319-741-6422.