Lockport Firefighters Union Donates Bleeding Control Kits To LTHS

LOCKPORT, IL — The Lockport Township Firefighters Local 1544 recently donated two bleeding control kits to Lockport Township High School. The group said the kits are mounted on the wall for easy access and are intended for use in mass casualty incidents where bleeding control is needed.

The kits cost about $2,000 and were paid for by the union group.

"This was an initiative we have been working on for some time, and with the donation we wanted to teach the staff how to use the equipment," Vice President Jeremiah Gericke said. Gericke said he approached the Lockport East principal about the donation as well as providing a class.

The class was held Nov. 19 and the group taught 400 teachers and staff about using tourniquets, dressings and pressure gauze.

"As everyone is aware, in recent years there has been an increase in the amount of incidents of violence at school campuses, and our members thought it was important to get this equipment into the hands of those who will be the first ones on the scene in the event something were to occur there," Gericke said.

Gericke said staff was attentive during the training and the group is confident in their skills.

"Ideally, there will be some type of bleeding control kit installed next to AEDs in all of those spaces," Gericke said. He said that goal will be a long-term endeavor which will required financial backing from other businesses and the public.