Seva Hester
Editor-in-Chief
“The only thing worse than death is a death that could have been prevented,” senior Eric Queller said. Queller is an advocate for the National Stop the Bleed campaign.
The National Stop the Bleed campaign started in April 2013, four months after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. The campaign’s main goal is to prepare those who are in an emergency to be able to stop the bleeding from external wounds.
“The course gives the individual the necessary skills to render
aid to a person that has a severe bleeding injury,” Queller said. Queller addressed the Education Committee for the state Senate on Friday, May 17, 2019 about the need for the campaign’s training to be available in public schools, outlined in House Bill No. 496.
“I went to the Senate to testify because I believe that the government needs to hear from a student point of view,” Queller said. “I have put my whole heart into this issue and I will help and support in any means necessary to get this training out into our public education institutions.”
Queller shared he is open to go back to testify again if needed. At the Senate, Queller advocated for the need for the training of educators in case of an emergency.
“100 percent of external bleeds are preventable with applied pressure or the application of a tourniquet,” Queller said.
Queller, an Athletic trainer (A.T.) and HOSA member, worked to organize the Stop the Bleed training here at O’Connor high school and partnered with another senior at Brandeis to host a training as well. The Brandeis student, senior Natalie Muniz, was working to get with the Stop the Bleed project and raise awareness in her Independent Study Mentorship class.
Queller got involved with the Community Emergency response team locally and passed the exam about one year ago. He sat down and wrote his 15 page memorandum after the school shooting at Santa Fe High School. He also reviewed and discussed the safety and security plan with former Vice Principal Ryan Purtell. In the summer of 2017, Queller was asked to to be on the Northside school health and safety counsel.
Queller shared that he had his statement prepared and was ready to share his information but was apprehensive.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Queller said.
He gave 12 minutes of testimony and submitted his 15 pages to the health advisory council.
He shared his goal is to train 13,990 faculty and staff members in Northside ISD and is prepared to meet with the NISD board of trustees sometime in late May or early June.
Queller has also successfully worked with Governor Abbott to declare National Athletic Training Month officially in the state of Texas and was able to visit with Governor Abbott the same day of his state senate testimony and thanked Abbott for declaring March A.T. month.
Queller is enrolled at Midwestern State University for Fall 2019 and plans to major in Athletic Training. He also shared he is open to a future in politics and plans to work with MSU as an adviser or committee member to improve their emergency preparedness plans.
The Senate Education Committee voted on the bill on May 20, approving the plan to train educators. The bill will now move to the state Senate to be voted on.