Make a Public Comment Before February 9, 2026
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is accepting public comment on proposed revisions to COMAR 13A.04.18 and the Comprehensive Health Education Standards & Frameworks. These proposed updates include an important opportunity to formally incorporate Bleeding Control / Stop the Bleed education into the Health I curriculum across Maryland schools.
This is a meaningful moment to help ensure life-saving bleeding control education becomes a permanent part of health education for all Maryland students.
Why This Matters
Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death from injury. When bystanders know how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly, lives are saved. Teaching these skills in schools strengthens emergency preparedness, promotes injury prevention, and builds safer, more resilient communities.
Sidewell, et al., 2022, demonstrated that adolescents can successfully learn and apply bleeding control skills. In a peer-reviewed study of middle-school students, 97% were able to correctly pack a wound and apply a tourniquet after training, and students’ willingness to help a bleeding victim increased from 71% before training to 96% after training. These findings demonstrate that bleeding control education is developmentally appropriate, effective, and empowering for youth.
Embedding Stop the Bleed education into the Health I curriculum ensures equitable access to these skills for students statewide—regardless of geography or resources.
How You Can Support This Effort
Submitting a public comment is easy and takes just a few minutes. Every voice matters.
Step 1: Review Framework and Regulation
Step 2: Share Your Support
In your comment:
- Express support for including Stop the Bleed / bleeding control education in the Health I curriculum
- Highlight the importance of bleeding control education for student safety, public health, and emergency preparedness
- Keep it brief—clear, supportive comments are impactful
You do not need to be a healthcare professional to comment. Parents, educators, students, community members, and partners are all encouraged to participate.
Step 3: Submit by the Deadline
Public comments are open through February 9, 2026.
Need Help Writing Your Comment?
A ready-to-use sample comment is available to copy and paste, or you can share your own personal or professional perspective. Even a few sentences of support make a difference.
The Ready-to-Use Sample Support Letter will open up into a Google Doc as view only. Please download the file to your desktop to add your institution’s logo and signature.
Help Spread the Word
Please share this opportunity with colleagues, educators, families, community organizations, and partners. Broad participation strengthens the case for making bleeding control education a statewide standard.
You can tag Maryland TraumaNet social media (Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook)
As part of this commitment, Maryland’s trauma and injury prevention leaders stand ready to support implementation through training, education, and partnership with schools and communities.
Together, we can help ensure Maryland students are equipped with skills that save lives.
Questions? Please contact Legislative Committee by emailing Zakk Arciaga at zarciag1@jhmi.edu or Justin Graves at jgraves2@umm.edu.
