Partnership kicks off with University Hospital providing Stop the Bleed training for NPS employees; Foundation for University Hospital will donate more than $30,000 to fully cover costs of the training and response kits
[Newark, NJ] On August 29th, the a partnership between University Hospital and Newark Public Schools (NPS) will kick off when the hospital’s Community Training Center will train approximately 150 public school employees—including nurses and security personnel—in emergency bleeding control skills. The event will mark the beginning of a formal relationship between the hospital and NPS to address the health of students and their families. Over time, programming will also include medical screenings, health education, workshops, smoking cessations classes, and insurance enrollment for Newark families.
The training program will eventually prepare nearly 5,000 NPS employees in emergency bleeding response. University Hospital is the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, and to date the only New Jersey hospital to offer a training program of this kind. Dr. Adam Fox, a committee member on the Stop the Bleeding Board and a surgeon in the trauma division at University Hospital, will be leading the training on August 29th.
To support this effort, The Foundation for University Hospital will donate more than $30,000 to cover the cost of the training and purchase nearly 550 bleeding control kits that will be distributed to all of Newark’s 66 public schools. The bleeding control kits that the Foundation is donating each contain tourniquets, pressure dressing, hemostatic agents, chest shields, gloves, and scissors, and can treat 3-4 patients each, depending on the severity of the wound.
The training initiative is part of a nationwide Stop the Bleed campaign and is funded by grants by the Department of Homeland Security and the New Jersey Department of Health. Stop the Bleed aims to equip bystanders with the skills needed to assist wounded individuals in the critical period before medical help arrives. According to research conducted by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, around 40% of trauma-related deaths are a result of uncontrolled bleeding and hemorrhaging, which often occur while a victim is waiting for medical attention.
Ras Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark: “Good health, wellness, and public safety require that health care providers form meaningful, long-lasting relationships with the communities they serve. The new partnership between University Hospital and Newark Public Schools is a step in the right direction.”
Roger León, Superintendent, Newark Public Schools: “Schools are much more than just places of learning because they serve as community hubs where teachers and families can work together to create a better environment for our children. Partnering with University Hospital to expand health education and access to medical services is not only good for the 55,000+ students attending Newark’s schools – it’s good for Newark as a whole.”
John Kastanis, President & CEO, University Hospital: “On behalf of University Hospital and the Foundation for University Hospital, we are extremely proud of this partnership with the Newark Public Schools. We believe our duty as healthcare providers extends beyond the walls of the hospital and necessitates a greater presence in the Newark community. Ensuring the health and safety of Newark’s students will help to develop a culture of health in the city.”
University Hospital is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, and is the Level 1 Trauma Center for Northern New Jersey. Located at University Heights in Newark, University Hospital is a principal teaching hospital of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and a regional resource for advanced services across many medical specialties. For more information about University Hospital, please visit www.uhnj.org.
The Foundation for University Hospital is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded to support University Hospital. The foundation develops relationships and financial resources to sustain and enhance healthcare programs, and services of University Hospital.