Gemini Elementary School will soon be a little bit better prepared as money is raised to provide each classroom with an Emergency Planning Classroom “Go Bucket.”
The bucket consists of essential first aid supplies – including a ‘Stop the Bleed’ kit with items like a tourniquet, hemostatic agent, gloves, bandages, gauze, sponges and scissors. ‘Stop the Bleed’ is a national campaign, launched in 2015 by the White House, and based on the success of the U.S. military in reducing combat fatalities using similar kits.
Already the Brevard County’s Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department have supplied each public school in the county with one Stop the Bleed kit, which cost between $50-$60 each.
Jim Turner is president of Melbourne Beach Volunteer Fire Department Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that operates as the recruitment, fund-raising, community service sector of the fire department. They plan to raise $6,000 for 600 buckets so that each Gemini classroom will have a bucket – as well as several other locations in town.
In addition to the Stop the Bleed Kit, they plan to add another $50 worth of items helpful in a crisis, like a flashlight and batteries.
According to the FBI, in 2018, there were 27 active-shooter incidents across 16 states. The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Last year, these incidents resulted in 85 deaths and 128 wounded. Three took place in Florida, with the deadliest at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people were killed and another 17 wounded.
Turner says most injuries and fatalities come from victims losing large quantities of blood before the situation can be secured and first responders can attend to victims.
“Our program fills that void by providing Stop the Bleed kits and additional first aid and other deemed-appropriate equipment in each classroom or church to help reduce the potential for increased injury or loss until the situation is resolved,” Turner said. “It is our hope that these kits never have to be used but we feel that it is a small amount of work on our part to provide the resources should tragedy strike.”
Gemini Principal Jennifer Julian said making sure students, faculty and staff are safe during school hours is critical.
“In an emergency situation, the classroom go-kits provide a clearly established collection of important and easily accessible resources,” Julian said. “During pre-planning week, teachers and staff will have an opportunity to receive training on classroom go-kit implementation, emergency procedures and CPR awareness.
The community has been supportive with many donating to the cause, including Health First, Oceanside Estate Jewelry, and Sundaes on the Beach.
To help raise more money, the MBVFD will host Fourth of July festivities in Ryckman Park, offering a full menu of barbeque items including hamburgers, hot dogs and pulled pork, with plenty of sides, ice cream, soda and beer. There will also be three live music acts, and a kids’ area with games and face painting.
“We are trying to create a hometown holiday festival feel and we will also have information about the fundraising goals and prototypes, so people can get an idea about the project,” Turner said. “The complete stocked bucket is about $100 each. We need about 50 or so total to meet our goal.”
Turner plans to have a “drop in the bucket” board to track donations, and aside from the money raised from food and drink revenue, they ask that people consider sponsoring individual buckets for a $100 donation.
The Fourth of July event will take place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ryckman Park, 507 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach.