The Killingworth Ambulance Association would like to thank all those who participated in its May 19 drive for the Haddam-Killingworth Backpack Program. Donations were made at the town’s Transfer Station, where the KAA … and, later, the town itself … made collections.

Despite cold, damp weather, the KAA collected $230 in cash, three large bins of toiletry items and one large box of non-perishables.

The H-K Backpack Program weekly sends home food and non-perishable items to district children from families that are struggling and twice a year equips them with toiletry items and toothbrushes for self care. Because the KAA is a medical operation, it concentrated on collecting self-care items.

The Backpack Program is a nationwide initiative created by nurses in Arkansas who noticed that children coming to school on Monday complained of symptom associated with not having been fed properly over the weekend.  A program was devised to give them backpacks of food for the weekend, with the backpacks returned the following school day.

The Killingworth Ambulance Association’s “Stop the Bleed” classes are beginning to catch on with the community.

Nearly 60 persons attended the last four sessions, including 31 at the Killingworth Fire Department, as the KAA brings the nationally sponsored program to the attention of the town — which is appropriate. Because Killingworth was the first Connecticut community to have its residents certified in the “Stop the Bleed” program when 19 persons — most of whom were KAA board members or EMTs — completed a one-hour course in July, 2017.

Since then, the KAA has conducted several classes, with interest growing so much that two more classes were scheduled for June. However, the first — a June 5 course at Haddam-Killingworth High School — has been canceled due to the loss last week of a faculty member. A second class scheduled for June 7 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church is still on.

“Stop the Bleed” is a national campaign launched in 2015 by the White House and Department of Homeland Security to inform and instruct persons how to deal with emergency bleeding situations an to provide them with the tools to save lives.

Local classes have been led by a Yale-New Haven Health emergency medical technician who is also a member of the Killingworth Ambulance Association’s board of directors.

Three “Stop the Bleed” classes are scheduled for Killingworth this month, including two on the same day — Wednesday, May 9.

One is at 10 a.m. and the other at 11 a.m., with both held at the Emergency Operations Center (next to Town Hall on Route 81). A third class is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, at 4 p.m. in the Killingworth library.

All will be led by an emergency medical technician at Yale-New Haven Health, who is a member of the KAA board and has led previous classes in the community.

“Stop the Bleed” is a national campaign launched in 2015 by the White House and Department of Homeland Security to inform and instruct persons on how to deal with emergency bleeding situations and to provide them with the tools to save lives.

It is of particular relevance to Killingworth, as the town was the first in Connecticut to have its residents certified for the “Stop the Bleed” program. That happened July, 19, 2017 when 19 persons — most of whom were EMTs and KAA board members — completed a one-hour course.