OLYMPIA — Legislation to help keep students safe in the event of accidents passed the Senate today on a unanimous vote.

SB  5790 would provide bleeding control kits in schools and encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help until professionals arrive.

“Bystanders can help save lives with simple techniques — having these kits available and having staff trained in using them can make all the difference,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), the bill’s sponsor. “Requiring these kits in all schools means that all students will get the same level of safety and protection.”

The kits include tourniquets certified to U. S. Department of Defense standards, compression bandages, bleeding control bandages, latex-free gloves; instructional documents, and other equipment. Two or more employees per school must be trained on using the kits.

“Every year, I sponsor legislation brought to me by students in my district,” Dhingra said. “This bill was first proposed in 2020 by students from Eastlake High School in Sammamish, and one of those students returned to testify again this year. It shows once again: democracy is a team sport!”

This legislation is part of a national Stop the Bleed campaign by the American College of Surgeons, which provides most training sessions for free. There is no minimum age for the training.

“A person can bleed to death in three-to-four minutes if hemorrhaging is not stopped,” said Dhingra. “In King County, the target 911 response time is seven minutes. This is why it’s so important that bystanders learn to help.”

Rian Alam, currently a student at University of Washington, was one of the original Eastlake High School students who suggested the bill to Dhingra in 2020. “Over three million people in the U.S. have become Stop the Bleed certified,” Alam said when testifying on the bill again this year. “These kids have the power to save lives.”

Dhingra’s testimony before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee is available on TVW here. Public testimony is available here.

An amendment passed on the Senate floor adds a defibrillator to the equipment required in schools.

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.