The International Paper Bogalusa Mill donated 40 Stop the Bleed kits to the Bogalusa Police and Fire Departments in observance of national “Stop the Bleed Day” on Thursday.

The kits include the critical supplies needed in the event of a major bleed crisis. The donation will supply each officer with their own kit.

“It is our sincere hope that our first responders will never need the supplies,” said Kalisa Hyman, mill communications manager. “But it is reassuring to know that each of them will now carry the supplies as part of their uniform.”

Stop the Bleed is one of the nation’s largest public health campaigns. Its goal is to save lives by training people how to stop traumatic bleeding.

“Thank you to the Bogalusa Mill for this valuable donation,” Bogalusa Fire Chief Richard Moody said. “Uncontrolled bleeding is a major cause of preventable deaths. Almost half of all trauma-related deaths are due to bleeding or its consequences.”

Bogalusa Police Chief Kendall Bullen also thanked Our Lady of the Angels Hospital for providing Stop the Bleed training.

“Proper training and awareness can prepare anyone to help in an emergency bleeding situation,” he said. “Having the proper equipment at hand makes a big difference.”