Senate Resolution No. 2278 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2024, 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 that 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 2024, 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 bleeding control; 35% of pre-hospital deaths are due to blood loss; and WHEREAS, 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 health care and public safety leaders to produce a program that will improve survival for victims suffering from bleeding injuries, and their review led to 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 Physician's EMS Week, May 19-25, 2024; New York State has some of the busiest STOP THE BLOOD programs in the country; and WHEREAS, In New York, 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, STOP THE BLEED also provides kits for sale 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 2024, 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.