Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive George Latimer, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services (DES), and the Office for People with Disabilities have unveiled a new video showcasing the county’s Stop the Bleed Pilot Program. The program aims to provide life-saving emergency preparedness training to individuals with visual impairments, marking a first in Westchester.

Latimer stated: “Being able to offer potentially life-saving emergency preparedness training to individuals in our community with a visual impairment is testament to our commitment to inclusivity and Westchester’s ability to continue to not only innovate but to innovate with passion and equity in mind. This program is also an important reminder that no matter our differences, we all are subject to bleeding the same. I commend the vision and forward-thinking leadership of DES and the Office for People with Disabilities to collaborate with nonprofit leaders to continue to consider the needs of all members of our community, and expand the scope of Westchester’s services with an eye towards a stronger, more resilient tomorrow.”

DES Commissioner Richard Wishnie commented: “This is an exciting first for us—to have our county’s highly skilled emergency service instructors and team be able to offer and adapt the same instruction that is given to our emergency service professionals to civilian members of our community with visual impairments. WCDES has a history going back many years of collaborating with disability service providers and people with lived disability experiences to better prepare our first responders. I am proud to see the success of this pilot program as the latest step forward in these collective and ongoing efforts.”

DES Deputy Commissioner Susan Spear added: “Assembling this pilot showcases the scope of DES’ training programs and the broad base of opportunities we can provide to diverse communities. It’s also important we highlight and acknowledge individuals who, without their passion and expertise, this groundbreaking pilot program would not have been possible—who include Westchester County Emergency Management Director Dennis Delborgo, DES EMS Division Deputy Chief Brett Roberts, and Westchester Council of the Blind of New York (WCBNY) Vice President Martin Cahill. Deputy Chief Roberts showed a remarkable ability to tailor this safety program for visually impaired members of our community. DES is proud to have him as part of our team.”

Director of the Office for People with Disabilities Evan Latainer noted: “Westchester is committed proactively raising awareness and breaking down barriers that individuals with disabilities face daily across a host of programs, strategies, and community collaborations. This effort addresses a need for accessible and inclusive emergency preparedness training, emphasizing responding effectively during life-threatening emergencies. This pilot will only deepen our resolve towards increased collaboration, inclusivity, and accessibility.”

The Stop the Bleed training took place at DES’ training facility in Valhalla, administered specifically for five visually impaired students. Adapted from professional first-responder low-light training programs, it focused on tactile sensory techniques, audible sound recognition, maintaining a one-to-one instructor-student ratio.