State Rep. Dave Prestin on Wednesday announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan plan, House Bills 4107 through 4109, to help people save lives by preventing blood loss. The legislation would provide liability protections for people trying to stop bleeding wounds and ensure high school students learn bleeding control techniques.

“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,” said Prestin, a licensed paramedic who has worked as a first responder for over 14 years. “Our plan would ensure the public is equipped with the training and legal protections they need to step in, identify a serious wound, and apply life-saving bleeding control techniques before it’s too late.”

Prestin is joined by state Reps. Mike Harris, R-Waterford, and Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, in spearheading the three-bill package.

Experts with the Stop the Bleed Coalition, a nationwide campaign to encourage blood loss prevention training, report that about 40% of trauma-related deaths worldwide are due to bleeding. A serious wound can cause a person to bleed out in 3 to 5 minutes, while the average response time for a first responder is 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, R-Cedar River. “While those incidents are a major factor, there are so many more situations where blood loss prevention training can be the difference between life and death. Our plan would equip kids to help a parent who suffers a traumatic event while at home or a friend who cuts themselves while chopping wood. Whether it’s farmers, coaches, coworkers, or just some random person on the side of the road, our plan would equip the general public with the tools they need to step in and become someone’s guardian angel.”

Prestin’s bill, HB 4108, would add bleeding control to the state’s Good Samaritan law, which protects individuals from legal liability for attempting to save lives in certain emergencies. The law currently applies to administration of an opioid antagonist, CPR, and other emergency response situations. A person would still be liable for acts and omissions that amount to gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct.

The Harris bill, HB 4107, would require high school health courses to include instruction and hands-on training on how to stop bleeding using tourniquets, bandages, and other equipment in first-aid response kits. Under the Michigan Merit Curriculum, students must complete a half-credit in health to graduate high school.

The plan was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

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