Ohio School Safety Center expands access to life-saving training with STOP THE BLEED® Educational License

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) has expanded its life-saving training capability by partnering with a national campaign called STOP THE BLEED® that encourages bystanders to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.

The OSSC recently received a STOP THE BLEED® educational license from the U.S. Department of Defense, enabling its staff to train civilians to recognize and control severe bleeding using direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets. All regional OSSC staff are authorized to instruct the two-hour program. This new training will equip students, educators, and school staff with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in life-threatening emergencies.

“This training empowers students and staff with the confidence to act when seconds matter most—turning ordinary school communities into prepared, life‑saving teams,” said OSSC Executive Director Emily Torok. “Whether it is a car accident, workplace or home injury, this training saves lives.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has championed bystander intervention through several safety and health initiatives, including the ODPS Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) “Every Minute Counts” campaign. STOP THE BLEED® training further advances this statewide focus.

This course adds to the OSSC’s growing list of training offerings. In 2025, the center significantly expanded its training reach and resources, strengthening its commitment to creating safe and supportive learning environments across the state.

A STOP THE BLEED® training session will be offered to registered attendees at the Ohio School Safety Summit in Sandusky on June 1, the day prior to the start of the summit. Additionally, the summit will feature Basic Life Support training for school nurses, along with specialized sessions tailored for law enforcement personnel, fire safety professionals, and EMS providers.

The OSSC is partnering with MetroHealth to establish an EMS continuing education site. Through this collaboration, OSSC will be able to offer continuing education credits for EMS personnel in critical school safety topics that are rarely offered anywhere else in the state. MetroHealth will provide the medical director and oversee the curriculum.

For more information on the STOP THE BLEED® course, click here.