Assemblymember Rodriguez Introduces Legislation to Expand His Successful Efforts in Equipping the Public to ‘STOP THE BLEED’

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Rodriguez (D – Pomona) has introduced legislation to continue his efforts in empowering the public to ‘STOP THE BLEED.’ Last year, Rodriguez authored AB 2260 which now requires specific public and private buildings to install and maintain six trauma kits on the building’s premises to treat individuals in need of emergency medical care. Now, AB 70 would require specified public and private structures that undergo modification or renovation costs in excess of $100,000 to install and maintain six trauma kits on the building’s premises in order to treat individuals in need of emergency medical care.

“Last year’s AB 2260 requires newly constructed specified buildings to have trauma kits on site. This year, I am authoring AB 70 to ensure we are prepared with the necessary tools to help ‘STOP THE BLEED’ in as many buildings as possible. As we have unfortunately seen, mass shooting events can happen anywhere and we must be both prepared and empowered to respond in a crisis situation,” stated Assemblymember Rodriguez.

Following the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a group of doctors convened a panel of national experts consisting of law enforcement personnel, fire departments, EMS professionals, and the military to create an improved response system directed at the control of life-threatening blood loss. This group of experts published a series of publications in the Hartford Consensus.

One of the recommendations from the Hartford Consensus II and III was that trauma kits be placed in public places such as shopping malls, schools, sports venues, transportation centers, etc., and strategically placed next to automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Trauma kits include tools such as tourniquets that enable a bystander to get enough pressure on the area to ‘STOP THE BLEED.’ AB 2260 was the first step in following this recommendation, and AB 70 would help California continue to prepare and empower our residents by placing trauma kits in a greater number of buildings.

“As a career first responder, I understand how critical the first few minutes are when a patient is experiencing blood loss. Increasing the number of buildings equipped with trauma kits so that bystanders can serve as immediate responders will allow our state to be better prepared for whenever and wherever tragedy strikes,” added Assemblymember Rodriguez.

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.