Trauma kits for each room, along with a new police cruiser, are among the newest additions to the Northern Lehigh School District thanks to a state grant.

School police officer Frank Gnas said the district applied for and received the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Competitive Grant for $330,679.

Gnas said the grant period runs from March 1, 2020, through Feb. 28, 2022.

“This grant allows Northern Lehigh School District to make several safety and security upgrades, increase emergency preparedness efforts, offer additional faculty training to support students in a variety of areas, and provide additional equipment and training/certification for our school police officers,” Gnas said. “The grant allowed Northern Lehigh School District the ability to purchase a new police cruiser, trauma kits, emergency escape ladders, additional cameras, five evacuation chairs, and additional training for staff.”

Gnas said the police cruiser cost about $20,000, and is uploaded with all of the necessary equipment.

He said the grant also provided the district with trauma kits for each room within the district.

“Several meetings were conducted to determine the best and practical items for the kits,” Gnas said.

Gnas gathered quotes from different vendors for the best possible pricing.

The district needed a total of 240 trauma kits valued at about $45.50 per kit.

He said the kits include one 5-gallon bucket with lid, three bottles of water, 15 paper cups, one container of disinfectant wipes, three garbage bags, one roll of toilet paper, and one 171-piece first aid kit.

“The purpose of the trauma kits are to afford the opportunity of survival in a mass casualty event or lockdown event that lasts for an extended period of time.” Gnas said. “The kits are now in all of the rooms at Northern Lehigh School District, and ready for use.”

Gnas said the kits allow for additional space in them for each staff member to add to them, such as someone who is diabetic in a classroom or staff can add glucosamine tablets or candy, hammers or additional tools to assist with lockdown events, or anything that will provide extra safety and security to them.

“The positive side to having the kits in every room is knowing that there are resources everywhere,” he said.

Gnas, who is also the district’s Safety and Security Coordinator, spent a great deal of time and effort putting the kits together.

He and his partner, school police officer David Jones, assembled each kit and delivered them to all of the buildings.