Section 38.030 of the Education Code now requires all school districts and open enrollment charters to “make available a protocol for school employees and volunteers to follow in the event of a traumatic injury.”  Let’s hope you don’t have to use that protocol, but it’s certainly a good idea to be ready. 

The statute also introduces new vocabulary: “bleeding control stations.” These must be “stored in easily accessible areas of the campus” as selected by the school’s safety and security committee. 

The protocol on this must also provide for instruction for our older students:

The protocol required under this section must: (4) require the district or charter school to annually offer instruction on the use of a bleeding control station from a school resource officer or other appropriate district or school personnel who has received the training…to students enrolled at the campus in grade seven or higher.

We’ve gotten some questions about this.  Must all students receive this instruction?  No. The statute says it must be “offered.”  Is this to be done as part of the regular instructional day?  The statute does not say, but it does say that it only has to be offered “annually.”  The bill required TEA to approve a course of instruction about this by October 1.  That’s done—go to TEA’s website and you will find that the Agency has approved two programs: www.bleedingcontrol.org and www.con10gency.com. 

Districts and charters have to have their protocol in place by January 1.  So get ready!

DAWG BONE: GOOD TO KNOW THAT IF I NEED A TOURNIQUET WHILE VISITING YOUR SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE READY!

The Dawg emerges from the Dawg house again on Monday.  See you then.