Teachers and administrative staff from Donna Klein Jewish Academy recently participated in hands-on safety training led by Alan Poland, Florida Regional Director of the Secure Community Network, and Ted Morris, Assistant Vice President of Security and Operations at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

The session combined two vital programs offered by the Federation’s Security Department: Situational Awareness and Stop the Bleed®. The Situational Awareness training focused on developing participants’ ability to observe their surroundings, recognize potential threats, and make informed decisions to best avoid threatening situations. By strengthening these skills, attendees learned how to respond more effectively in a variety of environments, from everyday situations to high-pressure incidents.

The Stop the Bleed® portion of the training equipped participants with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and control life-threatening bleeding before professional medical help arrives. The instruction centered on three essential techniques: applying direct pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet, emphasizing how these quick actions can save lives in critical moments.

Attendees not only learned the theory behind these lifesaving methods but also had the opportunity to put them into practice using Stop the Bleed® kits. They gained hands-on experience packing wounds, properly securing tourniquets, and building the confidence needed to respond in real emergencies.

“This kind of training empowers our community to respond effectively in an emergency,” said Poland. “It is about giving people the tools and confidence to act when every second counts.” By combining situational awareness with practical medical skills, the training reinforced the Federation’s commitment to the safety and preparedness of our local institutions.

For additional information about the Federation’s security initiatives, please visit jewishboca.org/security.