State Representative Selina Bliss has introduced a new bill, HB 2076, known as the FASTER Saves Lives Act, aimed at enhancing emergency medical response in schools during critical incidents. The legislation proposes a framework for school districts and charter schools to offer advanced trauma medical training to selected employees. This initiative is designed to ensure that schools have personnel on-site who can provide immediate care before paramedics arrive.
Representative Bliss highlighted the importance of this measure by stating, “Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after traumatic injury.” She emphasized that HB 2076 offers schools the option to prepare staff for immediate action during emergencies. The bill includes optional training for school employees in areas such as hemorrhage control with tourniquets, airway support, and chest injury stabilization. It also covers coordination with law enforcement and emergency medical services.
The training aligns with civilian and tactical emergency medical protocols and requires periodic recertification. Participation in this program is voluntary for both school systems and their employees. Importantly, the legislation does not mandate arming staff or alter existing firearm laws, nor does it impose new requirements on participating districts. It operates within current school safety and emergency preparedness laws while extending Good Samaritan liability protections to trained staff acting within their training scope.
Schools often experience delays in emergency response due to factors like campus size and distance from trauma centers. Studies indicate that survival rates decrease significantly when hemorrhage control is delayed, yet most school staff are only trained in basic first aid that doesn’t cover severe injuries. “Whether the emergency is an act of violence, a serious athletic injury, or a transportation accident, trained responders on site save lives,” Bliss noted.
Training costs are minimal and can be funded through existing school safety grants, federal preparedness funds, or private partnerships without imposing unfunded mandates on schools. Selina Bliss was elected to the Arizona State House in 2023 to represent Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County. She also serves as Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee.
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