Assemblymember Rodriguez Advances Legislation to Help ‘Stop the Bleed’ – Moves to the Assembly Floor for Consideration
(Sacramento, CA) Assembly Bill (AB) 2260, authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, passed out of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations today with a vote of 13-0. Earlier this Session, Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Emergency Management, introduced AB 2260 to require certain public and private buildings to install and maintain trauma kits on the building's premises to treat individuals needing emergency medical care.
"Having these trauma kits equipped with tools, such as tourniquets, for bystanders is vital to a victim's survival. According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, someone who suffers severe bleeding can lose their life in as little as five minutes – every second counts when lives are on the line. As a life-long first responder, I can tell you that every minute matters in a crisis. AB 2260 will help equip bystanders to serve as immediate responders and stop a hemorrhage to save lives," explained Assemblymember Rodriguez.
Throughout the years, mass casualty incidents have occurred with more frequency. Gun Violence Archive reports that the US has suffered nearly 200 mass shootings this year, with at least four occurring in California. Last month, a shooting in Sacramento left six dead, and just this past weekend, a gunman opened fire inside a church in Laguna Woods. Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, a group of doctors convened a panel of national experts to create an improved response system directed at controlling life-threatening blood loss. These recommendations are known as the Hartford Consensus. Some are included in AB 2260 to equip the public to help save lives during an emergency.
In October 2015, the White House established STOP THE BLEED, a national public awareness campaign to train more people to become immediate responders until professional help arrives. Since that time, the campaign has continuously grown, training over 1 million students, teachers, and community groups through their course. The month of May is now recognized as National STOP THE BLEED Month, with tomorrow being National STOP THE BLEED Day.
"In traumatic medical emergencies, timing is critical. By learning vital measures to aid trauma victims, we can all be empowered to save lives if tragedy strikes. Take some time today to learn about how to get trained, how to get equipment, or how to get involved in this national public health campaign," stated Senator Hueso, co-author of AB 2260.
Assemblymember Rodriguez (Twitter) represents the 53rd Assembly District which includes the cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, and Upland. He is Chair of the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management.