Janet Adkins addresses the Hilliard Town Council Thursday night. The town proclaimed October as Emily Adkins Blood Clot Awareness Month. Photo courtesy of Emily’s Promise. Britney Fletcher West NCR Reporter The Hilliard Town Council proclaimed October as Emily Adkins Blood Clot Awareness Month during its Oct. 1 meeting, honoring the memory of a Nassau County woman whose death led her family to advocate for greater awareness and prevention of blood clots. Mayor John Beasley presented the proclamation to Emily Adkins’ parents, Doug and Janet Adkins. She died Oct. 21, 2022, at age 23 from a pulmonary embolism resulting from a preventable blood clot after a fractured ankle. Her parents created Emily’s Promise in her memory to educate the public and medical professionals about blood clot risks and prevention. The proclamation noted that blood clots can affect people of any age and can be associated with risk factors including surgery, pregnancy and cancer treatment. It also highlighted the Caprini Risk Score, which can be used to assess an individual’s risk of developing a blood clot. Doug Adkins, who leads Emily’s Promise, told the council the organization continues to work on blood clot prevention and medical education. “This past legislative session, the foundation received a $200,000 appropriation for the Emily Adkins Fellowship program,” he said. “The fellowship is aimed at educating and teaching physicians.” Adkins said physician and staff training was among the recommendations of a state workgroup established following advocacy efforts surrounding the Emily Adkins Prevention Act. A law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2025 requires training for certified nursing assistants in nursing homes. “When you go to the hospital, you need to make sure you ask them regarding the blood clot prevention act because it’s now the law,” Adkins said. He said the Agency for Health Care Administration has established citations and deficiencies for noncompliance and that Florida hospitals with emergency rooms are required to have policies and procedures related to blood clot prevention and to train staff annually on their implementation. The Emily Adkins Prevention Act was enacted following advocacy by Emily’s Promise. The organization’s materials state that the law directs the secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, in conjunction with the state surgeon general, to establish a policy workgroup focused on blood clot surveillance and developing a standard of care to improve early identification and treatment. The proclamation also recognized Emily’s Promise efforts to educate the public about blood clot prevention and medical advancements, including thrombectomy, a procedure used to remove blood clots. Janet Adkins thanked the council for recognizing her daughter. “It’s been almost four years, and it’s still hard,” she said. “Thank you for remembering Emily.”