Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2026, as STOP THE BLEED Month in the State of New York

Senate Resolution No. 2288

BY: Senator RIVERA

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 2026, as STOP THE BLEED Month in  the  State  of
        New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
health issues which affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  hereby  memorializes
Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim May 2026, as STOP THE BLEED Month in
the State of New York, in conjunction with the  observance  of  National
STOP THE BLEED Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Trauma  is  the leading cause of death for Americans under
the age of 46; the top cause of preventable death in trauma is bleeding;
20% of people who have died from traumatic injuries could have  survived
with  quick  control of the bleeding; 35% of pre-hospital deaths are due
to blood loss; and

  WHEREAS, Additionally, 80% of victims in a mass casualty  event  are
transported to the hospital by members of the public; and

  WHEREAS,  Because  a  trauma  victim  can bleed to death within five
minutes before professional emergency care arrives, the program  teaches
citizens  bleeding-control  methods  developed by the military and first
responders to help citizens become immediate responders; and

  WHEREAS, The initiative was created in the wake  of  the  2012  mass
shooting  at  Sandy  Hook  Elementary  School;  the  American College of
Surgeons convened senior healthcare and public safety leaders to produce
a program that will improve survival for victims suffering from bleeding
injuries, and their review led to the development of the STOP THE  BLEED
campaign; and

  WHEREAS, When a person is losing blood, every minute counts, and the
STOP THE BLEED campaign of the American College of Surgeons is informing
Americans  and  connecting  Bleeding Control instructors with interested
citizens throughout the year, with  a  particular  emphasis  during  the
month   of  May,  which  includes  the  American  College  of  Emergency
Physicians National EMS Week, May 17-23, 2026; New York State  has  some
of the busiest STOP THE BLOOD programs in the country; and

  WHEREAS,  In  New York State, implementation of the program is being
guided by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma  and  the
New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; and

  WHEREAS,  Available for sale, STOP THE BLEED also provides kits that
include such tools as tourniquets,  dressings,  and  topical  hemostatic
agents  to help bystanders offer swift assistance at the scene of a mass
casualty or other incident; and

  WHEREAS, These trauma kits can be affixed to walls in public places,
much like the cardiac defibrillators with which  most  modern  buildings
are furnished; and

  WHEREAS,  The  STOP THE BLEED campaign is empowering citizens across
the country to save lives in situations when time  is  of  the  absolute
essence; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity  at
the local, State, and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim  May  2026,  as  STOP  THE
BLEED Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National STOP THE BLEED Month; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.