Equipping schools to Stop the Bleed

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Sheriff Richard McNamee announced that Henry County Sheriff’s Office has started a countywide “School Safety Project” to protect the children, grandchildren, and school staff in their classrooms through the provision of bleed control kits.

Henry County Deputy Sheriff’s Deputy and New London School Resource Officer Carlos Lopez led this project with an initial goal of providing school safety kits for the New London Community School District, then additionally for all the classrooms in Henry County. To accomplish this goal, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Mt. Pleasant Community School Foundation to begin submitting grant applications.

Additional support for this project comes from the Mt. Pleasant, New London, Winfield and Wayland police departments along with Henry County Emergency Management, Henry County EMS, New London, Mt. Pleasant, Winfield-Mount Union, WACO community school districts, and the Mount Pleasant Christian School.

The bleed control kits will allow students and staff to have the ability to be proactive in taking steps to save lives in the event of an active attack. It is important to note that training on the bleed control kits will be done at all schools. The bleed control kits contain lifesaving medical supplies. This training provides valuable medical education that can be taken through adulthood.

Partnering with the National Guard back in October 2023, New London Community School District staff and students received education about “Stop the Bleed.” According to Iowa National Guard Recruiter Cody Vantiger, a person can bleed out in as fast as three to five minutes, emergency services have an average response time of eight minutes, and the number one cause of preventable death after an injury is bleeding.

Medical supplies are being purchased for the bleed control kits. Donations are still being accepted. Donors will be recognized in each school building and through media sources.

As of today, the project has received grants from the Henry County Health Center Foundation, Enhance Henry County, Hoaglin Foundation, and donations from the Walmart Distribution Center, Beck’s Superior Hybrids, the City of New London, and the New London Municipal Utilities.

To donate, drop-off a check made out to the Mt. Pleasant Community School Foundation at Two Rivers Bank or the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Indicate on the memo line that the donation is for “School Safety Project.” For more information, contact Deputy Carlos Lopez at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office 319-385- 2712.