Champaign County launches countywide ‘Stop the Bleed’ initiative

The following is a press release from the Champaign County Emercency Management Agency:

The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is proud to announce the launch of a comprehensive countywide Stop the Bleed initiative aimed at equipping all local law enforcement officers with lifesaving bleeding-control skills, and standardized bleeding control supplies.

As part of this effort, every current law enforcement officer in Champaign County will participate in Stop the Bleed training, and all new hires will receive the same instruction during their onboarding process. Each patrol vehicle in the county, regardless of agency, will be outfitted with an identical bleeding control kit placed in a universal, easily accessible location. This consistency ensures that every officer, regardless of agency or location, has immediate access to vital equipment and the training required to act when seconds truly matter.

Stop the bleed Training, bleeding control kits, and similar programs have been successfully deployed worldwide in a wide range of emergencies, including school incidents, public events, rural farming accidents, and motor-vehicle crashes. In many instances, these kits have played a direct role in saving the lives of both citizens and first responders.

In addition to law enforcement personnel, 911 dispatchers, local emergency medical staff, and key community stakeholders including the Champaign County Commissioners, will attend educational sessions to strengthen collaboration and deepen understanding of the needs of first responders in the field.

Through this initiative, the Champaign County EMA has procured high-quality training aides and bleeding control kits for every patrol vehicle across the county. The EMA is also grateful for its ongoing partnership with Mercy Health, whose donation of a second bleeding control simulator will further enhance the realism and quality of instruction. This added resource ensures that participants receive the most effective training possible, providing a valuable asset to both local responders and the region as a whole.

Area responders will begin their training in early January 2026, with the goal of having all kits operational upon the participating agencies’ completion of the program within the first few weeks of the new year. The EMA will continue to post updates on these classes and highlight the hard work and dedication of the men and women committed to becoming better trained and better prepared for a safer Champaign County.

“We at the EMA look forward to expanding future Stop the Bleed training opportunities beyond law enforcement. With the training aides now available, we aim to bring this program to schools, businesses, 4-H groups, farmers, scout troops, and other community organizations helping create a safer county and region. Living in a rural area with increased travel distances to emergency care makes this training especially critical, as seconds matter, and we hope to expand on this as much as possible. “

The Champaign County EMA also opens up the ability to utilize their supplies to area EMS agencies as well, allowing access to simulation devices when training their staff that these agencies may not otherwise have access to.

The Champaign County EMA extends its sincere appreciation to the following partners, and their staff for their commitment and support of this lifesaving initiative: