The University of South Florida is leading an area-wide effort to prepare for a mass-injury emergency. 

  • Stop the Bleed program helps prepare people for an emergency
  • USF teaming with Tampa organizations on Blood Control Kits
  • School also providing medical training on uncontrolled bleeding 

USF is partnering with major organizations across Tampa to be prepared for a mass injury event, such as a shooting or natural disaster. The national "Stop the Bleed" program provides non-medically trained bystanders with the knowledge and tools to help prevent someone from bleeding to death.

March 31 is national "Stop the Bleed" Day

Bleeding Control Kits are being installed across the USF campus and many will be mounted near Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and stored in campus police vehicles. The bright red kits include tourniquets, gauze and gloves - medical supplies that can stop an injury from worsening prior to EMS arrival.

"They can be placed in schools, houses of worship, public venues arenas, any place where a tragedy can occur," said Luis Llerena, MD, medical director of the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS). "Unfortunately tragedies do happen and I think it’s good for us to prepare and be ready in case they do."

USF is training dozens of faculty members and those affiliated with the Tampa Downtown Partnership (TDP), comprised of area businesses, to use the kits. 

Llerena is working with TDP to develop a strategy that best prepares the downtown area for an emergency. He’s also trained dozens of employees at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

A major component of the "Stop the Bleed" training, is empowering participants to train colleagues and other members of the community. The Straz is advancing USF’s efforts by educating additional hospitality groups and agencies on how to use the Bleeding Control Kits in an effort to save more lives. 

The American College of Surgeons designed the "Stop the Bleed" program following the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. 

The White House officially launched the program in 2015.