Central Georgia EMS Region 5
STOP THE BLEED® Challenge:
A Regional Preparedness Challenge During the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz
Trauma affects individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Building resilience isn’t something any one person or organization can do alone—it takes all of us working together.
The Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge is a friendly regional competition designed to encourage individuals, schools, businesses, healthcare organizations, first responders, faith communities, and community groups to learn lifesaving bleeding control skills and strengthen preparedness across Central Georgia.
Whether you attend a live webinar, host a watch party, participate in a hands-on training, or encourage others to get involved, you are helping build a community that is better prepared to respond when every second counts.
Join us during the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz and help make Central Georgia stronger, safer, and more resilient—one person, one organization, and one community at a time.
Here’s how you can participate and help your county compete during the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz.
Participant Door Prize Drawings
Live following the 4:00 p.m. EDT webinar every Tuesday and Thursday during the Statewide Training Blitz.
Who Can Participate?
Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re learning individually or training an entire organization, every eligible participant helps strengthen preparedness across Region 5. The program is especially well suited for middle school, high school, and college students, as well as adults from all walks of life—including healthcare professionals, first responders, educators, business leaders, faith communities, civic organizations, and other community members. Young children are also welcome to participate with the guidance and supervision of a parent or guardian.
Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to:
- PreKs, Schools, Technical Colleges, and Universities
- Hospitals and healthcare systems
- EMS agencies
- Fire departments
- Law enforcement agencies
- Public health departments
- Local, county, state, and federal government agencies
- Businesses and industries
- Faith-based organizations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Civic organizations
- Community groups
- Volunteer organizations
- Youth-serving organizations
Any other organization conducting eligible STOP THE BLEED® training during the Statewide Training Blitz
If your organization hosts an eligible training or webinar watch party during the Training Blitz and participants complete the official post-course survey, your organization is eligible to participate in the Region 5 Preparedness Challenge.
How to Participate:
- Option 1 – Attend one of the official Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz webinars.
- Option 2 – Host or attend a webinar watch party.
- Option 3 – Participate in a qualifying instructor-led STOP THE BLEED® training conducted during the Statewide Training Blitz.
STOP THE BLEED® Live Online Training
Monday, July 27th – Thursday, August 6th
Choose from one of three 1-hour sessions each day
10:00am • 1:00pm • 4:00pm
Then…Complete the Official Post-Course Survey
Have each participant complete the official Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz Post-Course Survey. Your survey submission verifies your participation, credits your county and organization, enters you into participant door prize drawings, and helps determine Region 5 Challenge award winners. Every eligible participant who completes the survey strengthens their county’s standing, supports their organization, and helps build a more prepared and resilient Central Georgia.
Whether one person participates or one thousand, every completed survey strengthens your county’s Challenge standing and helps paint a more accurate picture of preparedness across Central Georgia.
Region 5 Preparedness Challenge
Every Region 5 county has an opportunity to earn the title of Region 5 Preparedness Champion. Every eligible participant who completes the official post-course survey helps strengthen their county’s standing in the Challenge.
To ensure counties of every size compete on a level playing field, standings are based on Participation Rate rather than total population.
Participation Rate = Eligible Participants ÷ 2026 County Population
County populations are based on the official 2026 County Residential Population Projections published by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB).
Region 5 Counties:
Baldwin • Bibb • Bleckley • Crawford • Dodge • Hancock • Houston • Jasper • Johnson • Jones • Laurens • Monroe • Montgomery • Peach • Pulaski • Putnam • Telfair • Treutlen • Twiggs • Washington • Wheeler • Wilcox • Wilkinson
A live leaderboard will track county rankings throughout the Training Blitz.
Organization Challenge
Organizations throughout Region 5 can earn recognition by encouraging employees, students, members, volunteers, or other participants to take part in the Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge. Every eligible participant who identifies their organization on the official post-course survey helps strengthen their organization’s standing in the Organization Challenge.
Eligible participation includes:
- Attending a live webinar
- Hosting or participating in a webinar watch party
- Conducting or attending an instructor-led STOP THE BLEED® training during the Statewide Training Blitz
When participants complete the official post-course survey and identify their organization, participation is automatically credited to that organization for the Organization Challenge.
Community Engagement Award
One of the greatest strengths of our regional Trauma System is the many ways our communities come together. The Community Engagement Award celebrates that spirit by recognizing the people and organizations helping build a more prepared and resilient Central Georgia.
Share photos of your participation during the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz. Eligible individuals and organizations that submit qualifying photos will be entered into a random drawing for 10 STOP THE BLEED® Kits.
Submit Your Photos
Eligible photos may include:
- Hands-on STOP THE BLEED® training
- Webinar watch parties
- Individual participation during a live Statewide Training Blitz webinar
Upload up to five (5) photos taken during the Challenge.
Share your Challenge photos here:
GuestCam: Central Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Challenge Gallery
https://guestcam.co/guest/Cum0ZsS178
Please include:
- Your name (or organization)
- County
- Event date
- A brief description of your participation
Submission deadline: August 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Participants and organizations are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission to photograph participants and share submitted images.
Paying It Forward
Whether awarded to an individual or an organization, the 10 STOP THE BLEED® Kits provide an opportunity to extend preparedness by equipping a family, school, workplace, faith community, neighborhood, or another organization with lifesaving bleeding control resources.
Sharing Your Story
Submitted photos may be featured in regional and statewide websites, newsletters, reports, presentations, and social media to recognize participation, celebrate community preparedness, and inspire future STOP THE BLEED® education.
Every photo tells a story. Every participant strengthens a community. Every person trained is another person prepared to save a life.
Participant Door Prize Drawings
Every participant who completes the official Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz Post-Course Survey is automatically entered into the Region 5 Participant Door Prize Drawings.
Stay engaged throughout the Training Blitz! In addition to the Region 5 Participant Door Prize Drawings, participants will have opportunities to win additional prizes during the live statewide webinar presentations.
Live prize drawings will be held immediately following the 4:00 p.m. EDT webinar every Tuesday and Thursday during the Training Blitz.
Participants:
- Complete the post-course survey once to be eligible.
- Do not need to be present to win Region 5 door prizes unless otherwise announced.
- May win multiple prizes throughout the Training Blitz.
Eligibility & Administration
Region 5 Eligibility
The Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge is designed to strengthen preparedness throughout the Central Georgia EMS Region 5 service area.
To receive participation credit toward the Challenge, participants should live, work, attend school, or regularly volunteer within one of the Region 5 counties.
Individuals and organizations outside the Region 5 service area are encouraged to participate in the Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz but are not eligible for Region 5 Challenge awards.
Download our STOP THE BLEED® TRAINING Announcement here:
STBGA-B2S-2026-Online-V1-1Download
Find Upcoming Courses Near You – Search for STOP THE BLEED® Training Events in Georgia and Beyond
Eligible Activities
Eligible participation includes:
- Attending a live Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz webinar
- Hosting or participating in a webinar watch party
- Conducting or attending an instructor-led STOP THE BLEED® training during the Challenge period
We recognize that many organizations begin their back-to-school preparedness efforts early. Participation in eligible instructor-led STOP THE BLEED® trainings and webinar watch parties conducted July 15–22, 2026, may be verified by the host organization or instructor. Beginning July 23, 2026, participants should complete the official Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz Post-Course Survey.
R5TRAUMA Education Team
The R5TRAUMA Education Team is committed to expanding STOP THE BLEED® education throughout Central Georgia by providing instruction, educational resources, technical assistance, and support for the Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge.
To maintain the integrity of the Challenge, members of the R5TRAUMA Education Team are not eligible to receive Region 5 Challenge awards or door prizes.
Organizations and participants trained or supported by the R5TRAUMA Education Team remain fully eligible to receive participation credit and compete for all Region 5 Challenge awards.
Photo Permissions
By submitting photos for the Community Engagement Award, participants and organizations certify they have obtained any necessary permission to photograph identifiable individuals and to share submitted images.
Submitted photos may be featured in regional and statewide websites, newsletters, reports, presentations, and social media to recognize participation, celebrate community preparedness, and promote future STOP THE BLEED® education and outreach initiatives.
Challenge Administration
The Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge is administered by the R5TRAUMA Education Team. The team reserves the right to verify eligibility, resolve questions regarding participation, determine award eligibility, and make final decisions regarding Challenge administration and interpretation of these guidelines.
Questions?
If you have questions about eligibility, qualifying activities, organizational participation, or any aspect of the Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge, the R5TRAUMA Education Team is happy to help.
Contact Steve Stewart at stewart21407@yahoo.com or (478) 451-9668.
Challenge Resources for Instructors & Program Coordinators
The Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge utilizes the American College of Surgeons (ACS) STOP THE BLEED® Version 2 presentation with Georgia-specific enhancements developed to support the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz. These enhancements include Georgia-specific information, optional instructional slides, embedded videos, instructor notes, and educational resources designed to support statewide and regional STOP THE BLEED® initiatives.
The ACS STOP THE BLEED® Version 3 presentation and the most current official instructor resources remain available through the STOP THE BLEED® Instructor Portal at www.stopthebleed.org. Instructors should continue to follow all American College of Surgeons instructor requirements, course standards, and reporting procedures.
Georgia-Specific STOP THE BLEED® Presentation (Version 2)
This presentation contains the standard ACS STOP THE BLEED® curriculum along with Georgia-specific enhancements created for the Training Blitz and Challenge.
Before presenting, please:
- Download and review the presentation in advance.
- Read the instructor notes throughout the presentation.
- Update the presenter information on the optional introduction slide, if used.
- Unhide any optional Georgia-specific slides you wish to include.
- Replace all placeholder text (course location, Program Number/Class ID, instructor name, etc.) with your course information.
- Prefill the Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Education Survey slide before your presentation.
- Test all embedded videos and hyperlinks before your program.
- Review the companion Georgia Survey & Program Options Guide to ensure your course is documented and reported correctly.
Georgia Survey & Program Options Guide
This companion resource provides guidance for planning, documenting, and reporting Georgia STOP THE BLEED® educational activities. Topics include:
- ACS and Georgia STOP THE BLEED® program delivery options.
- Appropriate course types for traditional, virtual, skills-only, refresher, awareness, and instructor orientation programs.
- Georgia Education Survey instructions.
- Program Numbers and documentation requirements.
- ACS course reporting guidance.
- Additional recommendations for Challenge participation.
Download Resources
Important Notes
These resources are provided to support instructors participating in the 2026 Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz and the Central Georgia EMS Region 5 STOP THE BLEED® Challenge.
The linked files are provided as view-only resources. You are welcome to download copies for use in your own STOP THE BLEED® instruction and customize the editable fields with your presenter and course information. Please do not redistribute modified versions as official Georgia STOP THE BLEED® materials.
Be sure to register and close all applicable ACS STOP THE BLEED® courses through the STOP THE BLEED® Instructor Portal, follow current ACS instructor policies, and complete all required course documentation and reporting.
Also Note: The educational content and life-saving principles presented in the Georgia-enhanced Version 2 presentation remain consistent with the current ACS curriculum. The primary differences are in presentation style rather than educational content.
The ACS Version 3 presentation utilizes a modern, image-driven format with minimal on-screen text and is particularly well suited for experienced instructors delivering traditional, in-person courses. The Georgia-enhanced Version 2 presentation includes more detailed instructional content, speaker guidance, Georgia-specific resources, and integrated participant information. These enhancements make it especially useful for virtual instruction, new or occasional instructors, and statewide educational initiatives such as the Georgia STOP THE BLEED® Back-to-School Training Blitz.
As always, instructors should use the presentation format that best meets the needs of their audience while adhering to current ACS instructor standards.
STOP THE BLEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved. © DoD
