On September 2nd, 2025, Auxiliary officers from the Watseka Police Department completed STOP THE BLEED® training, equipping them with life-saving skills to control severe bleeding in trauma situations. The course, supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and led by the American College of Surgeons, focuses on providing immediate care to victims of injury before professional medical help can arrive. The training was provided by Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency coordinator Scott Anderson. With emergency medical services often taking at least 7 to 10 minutes to arrive, and a person with severe bleeding potentially bleeding out in as little as 3 to 5 minutes, first responders are in a critical position to save lives. The STOP THE BLEED program teaches officers three basic techniques to control bleeding: • Applying direct pressure to a wound • Packing a wound with gauze • Properly applying a tourniquet Anderson mentioned, “Victims can often bleed out in three to five minutes, long before first responders can help. That’s why these skills are so important, especially for those that do things outside and those who live further away from a hospital or an EMS department.” The STOP THE BLEED campaign was initiated by the Department of Defense after the Sandy Hook school shooting to empower bystanders to help save lives during traumatic events involving severe bleeding. The program has since expanded globally, providing life-saving training and equipment to millions of people.