Gulf Shores City School employees and staff spent time this summer completing Stop The Bleed and active shooter training courtesy of the Gulf Shores Fire Rescue and Gulf Shores Police Department.

Stop The Bleed program is designed to give individuals the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and intervene effectively. According to stopthebleed.org, over 1.5 million people have been trained with the Stop The Bleed curriculum.

The Gulf Shores Fire Rescue and Gulf Shores Police Department worked together to train 170 Gulf Shores City School teachers and staff. Those in attendance learned how to control bleeding by applying pressure, how to pack a wound and correctly apply a tourniquet. Gulf Shore City Schools is also providing lifesaving medical kits in each classroom in all three school buildings.

During the Aug. 23 Gulf Shores City Council meeting, Superintendent Matt Akin explained the Stop The Bleed training to the council. He also thanked Fire Chief Mark Sealy and Nick Russell for their help in training the staff.

Gulf Shores City School Transportation and Safety Coordinator Marcus Early also spoke to the council.

“We are blessed to have a great group of firefighters and police officers. Not only are they great but they also work well together. We need to give a lot of credit to Nick Russell. We have been talking about this training for a year and a half and he is the one that made it happen.”

Akin and Early presented representatives from the fire and police departments with plaques in appreciation for all they do for Gulf Shores City Schools.