Requires every elementary and secondary school within the State of Rhode Island to provide and maintain clearly visible and easily accessible trauma kits within the school. It also provides immunity if assistance is rendered.

Rhode Island School Trauma Kit Act – Plain English Summary

This bill would require every public and private elementary and secondary school in Rhode Island to have trauma kits on hand and keep them in places that are clearly visible and easy to reach. A trauma kit typically contains supplies designed to treat serious injuries quickly — such as tourniquets, bandages, and other items used to control severe bleeding — before emergency medical help arrives. The goal is to make sure schools are better prepared to respond immediately when a student, staff member, or visitor suffers a serious physical injury on school grounds.

The bill also includes a legal protection known as "immunity" for anyone who uses one of these kits to help an injured person in good faith. This means that a teacher, staff member, or bystander who tries to assist someone using the trauma kit would generally be protected from being sued if something goes wrong during that effort to help. This type of protection is similar to "Good Samaritan" laws that already exist in many states to encourage people to step in and help during emergencies without fear of legal consequences.

This legislation would directly affect all K-12 schools across Rhode Island, including their administrators, teachers, and staff, who would be responsible for ensuring the kits are properly stocked and maintained. Currently, the bill has been referred to the House Education Committee and has been scheduled for a hearing, though the committee has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced toward a final vote.