Owensboro Health Trauma Services and Daviess County Public Schools (DCPS) teamed up Tuesday to provide life-saving trauma training for the district’s transportation staff, equipping approximately 150 bus drivers and monitors with critical skills to respond in emergencies.
The hands-on “Stop the Bleed” training was held at the Daviess County Middle School cafeteria and led by Hannah Blanton, RN, Trauma Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator for Owensboro Health. The session focused on how to control life-threatening bleeding, which Blanton said is a leading cause of preventable death after trauma.
“Knowing that the DCPS transportation team will now be equipped with both knowledge and tools to bridge the gap before EMS arrives is truly humbling,” Blanton said. “This collaboration is about saving lives.”
The training was supported by a multidisciplinary team including trauma experts from Owensboro Health, AirEvac flight paramedics and nurses, EMS professionals from Daviess and McLean counties, and HealthForce Kentucky. Each participant left the session with certification and a personal trauma kit containing a CAT tourniquet, trauma shears, and a pen.
“Our bus drivers are responsible for the lives of our students every day,” said Wendi Kozel, DCPS District Health Coordinator. “Providing this training gives them the tools and confidence to act quickly when it matters most.”
The initiative is part of a broader trauma prevention strategy by Owensboro Health, with funding support from the Owensboro Health Foundation. It builds on previous training sessions and will expand this fall to include DCPS Emergency Response Teams and staff in all AED-equipped areas across the district.
