NEWS RELEASE: Community Partnership Enhances School Safety with Trauma Response Bags

 

News Release

Stevens Point Area Public School District

1900 Polk Street

Stevens Point, WI 54481

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

CONTACT:            Sarah O’Donnell, director of communications
                              715/343-6629 | sodonnel@pointschools.net 

 

April 22, 2025

 

Community Partnership Enhances School Safety with Trauma Response Bags

“Stop the Bleed” kits assembled for Stevens Point Area public schools, with goal to expand county-wide

Stevens Point, Wis.— On Monday, April 21, community partners, first responders, and school staff came together at Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) to assemble life-saving Trauma Response Bags that will now be distributed to every school within the Stevens Point Area Public School District.

The collaborative effort—held at the SPASH —was made possible through the generous support of the Stevens Point Police Officers Organization, Stevens Point Firefighters IAFF Local 484, Anovia Health, Stevens Point Orthopedics, CVMIC, and Lands’ End. These sponsors provided critical materials and funding to make this initiative a reality.

Each bag includes essential emergency items such as tourniquets, chest seals, gauze, compression tape in easily transportable duffel bags. Placed in central locations within each school building, the bags are designed to empower trained staff to respond quickly in the event of a critical injury before emergency responders arrive.

Over the past several years, district staff have completed Stop the Bleed training, a nationwide program that equips individuals with the knowledge and tools to control life-threatening bleeding. The Trauma Response Bags now offer the tools needed to act on that training and potentially save lives.

This initiative is part of a broader partnership with Portage County emergency services, with the goal of ensuring every school in the county is equipped with a Trauma Response Bag by the start of the 2025–26 school year.

“This is a meaningful step forward in school safety, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners who made it possible,” said Cory Hirsbrunner, superintendent for the Stevens Point Area Public School District. “Their generosity reflects a true commitment to our students and staff.”

Community members or businesses interested in supporting the expansion of this project to all schools in Portage County are encouraged to contact Lt. Joe Johnson at jjohnson@stevenspoint.com.

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CUTLINE: Representatives from Anovia Health, Stevens Point Orthopedics, CVMIC, Lands’ End, the Stevens Point Police Officers Organization, and Stevens Point Firefighters IAFF Local 484 stand behind life-saving supplies that were packed into Trauma Response Bags for every school in the Stevens Point Area Public School District. Their generous support helped make the Stop the Bleed initiative possible.(Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)