More community members learning to ‘Stop the Bleed’
Provided photos: Howard Watts, a Shelby volunteer firefighter, was among the participants in a “Stop the Bleed” training session on Wednesday at GCASA.
ALBION – The Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition sponsored a “Stop the Bleed” training on Wednesday at the GCASA offices in Albion. Mackenzie Smith, Emergency Department nurse manager for Orleans Community Health, shared her expertise with 18 community members who attended the one-hour training.
“Stop the Bleed” trainings were motivated by the 2012 school shooting in Sandy Hook and the multiple tragedies that have occurred in the ensuing years. The resulting injuries from manmade or natural mass casualty events generally present with severe bleeding which, if left unattended, can result in death.
“The skills and basic tools to stop uncontrolled bleeding are able to provide immediate frontline aid until first responders are able to take care of an injured person,” Smith said.
Mackenzie Smith, Emergency Department nurse manager for Orleans Community Health, leads the training on Wednesday.
Due to many situations, there may be a delay between the time of injury and the time a first responder is on the scene. Smith shared the ABC’s of Bleeding: A – Alert – call 911; B – Bleeding – find the bleeding injury; and C – Compress – apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Smith also shared how to apply tourniquets to stop the blood flow and the basics of wound packing.
Three actions that could save a life include:
• Apply pressure with hands.
• Apply dressing and press.
• Apply tourniquets if the bleeding doesn’t stop. The tourniquet may be applied and secured over clothing. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, place a second tourniquet closer to the torso from the first tourniquet. (A belt could be used as a tourniquet.)
Smith also recently offered a Stop the Bleed training for Lyndonville Central School staff. Aaron Slack, principal of the LCS Secondary School, coordinated the training through his role on the Board of Directors for Medina Memorial Hospital and Orleans Community Health.
Smith offers training to Lyndonville physical education teacher Laura Valley and health teacher Shane Phillips.
COVA will offer class this Saturday
This Saturday is “National Stop the Bleed Day” and COVA will be teaming with the Orleans County Health Department to offer a free training from 9 a.m to 12:30 at the Carlton Rec Hall on Route 98.
The program is designed to encourage bystanders to get involved and help until local emergency response personnel can arrive on scene. It promotes an all-hazards approach to this issue. It does not matter if the injury is accidental in nature, or the result of an act of violence. Giving people the confidence to act can save lives.
Barb Morlino, the training coordinator for COVA, will lead the class with help from Justin Niederhofer, Carlton’s assistant fire chief.
The program on Saturday is free. Click here for more information or to register.
