In life-threatening emergencies, every second matters, and our students know that mere moments can prevent fatalities. Each year, Chapman University School of Pharmacy students teach our neighbors throughout Southern California to have proactive responses and how to be active bystanders following traumatic events as part of the Stop the Bleed campaign.

Stop the Bleed is a national campaign to equip bystanders with the knowledge and confidence to manage severe bleeding in short periods. Recently, our Doctor of Pharmacy candidates led a hands-on training at an elementary school for the school’s teachers and students through practical exercises designed to build readiness for emergency situations. The event was planned ahead of National Trauma Awareness Month, but the impact of their instruction goes beyond a single day or classroom sessions.

“From a student perspective, it’s incredibly fulfilling to apply the Stop the Bleed training and have the opportunity to teach others,” recalls Kaylie Rozell, a first-year Pharm.D. student. “Participating in broader community events like this is especially meaningful because it helps equip people outside of healthcare with critical, life-saving skills. Although we all hope these skills are never needed in real life, being prepared and knowing how to respond can make all the difference in an emergency.” 

CUSP has been participating in Stop the Bleed for several years now, and has taught hundreds of people strategies to take action in the event of severe bleeding until professional medical help arrives, with the hopes of having higher survival rates for victims of traumatic injury. As CUSP’s commitment to health is woven into our academic and patient-safety culture, students regularly lead outreach events similar to this to increase health literacy across diverse populations.