UP Gazette

State Representative Dave Prestin has announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan legislative package aimed at preventing blood loss and saving lives. The proposed legislation, House Bills 4107 through 4109, seeks to provide liability protections for individuals who assist in stopping bleeding wounds and ensure that high school students receive training in bleeding control techniques.

Rep. Prestin, who has over 14 years of experience as a licensed paramedic and first responder, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “People don’t realize that we’re all just one little slip away from a major injury that starts the most terrifying timer of our lives. Traumatic injury can happen to anyone.” He added that the plan would equip the public with necessary training and legal protections to effectively manage serious wounds.

Joining Rep. Prestin in spearheading this three-bill package are state Representatives Mike Harris from Waterford and Carrie Rheingans from Ann Arbor. The initiative is supported by data from the Stop the Bleed Coalition, which highlights that approximately 40% of trauma-related deaths globally are due to bleeding. With a serious wound capable of causing fatal blood loss within minutes, timely intervention is crucial given that average first responder arrival times range between 7 to 10 minutes.

“When you think about the ways people incur injuries that cause major blood loss, most of our thoughts go to car accidents,” said Prestin. He noted other situations where such training could be life-saving and stressed its importance for various community members including farmers, coaches, coworkers, or even strangers.

Prestin’s bill, HB 4108, aims to expand Michigan's Good Samaritan law by adding provisions for bleeding control interventions alongside existing measures like CPR and opioid antagonist administration. Legal protection under this law would not extend to acts constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The related bill by Rep. Harris, HB 4107, proposes incorporating bleeding control instruction into high school health courses as part of the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements for graduation.

This legislative proposal has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further evaluation.