You never
know when you’ll need to recognize and control life threatening bleeding
but being prepared is essential. That’s why Granby Ambulance Association
proudly supports and regularly teaches the Stop the Bleed® program.
When Will
You Need to Stop the Bleed?
A bleeding
emergency can occur at home, work, school or during a public event.
It could be the result of a car accident, a kitchen mishap or even a simple
fall in the home. And while we don’t like to consider the possibility
that we could be part of a large-scale event, recent school shootings,
acts of terrorism, and natural disasters show that it is possible and could
happen to anyone.
The fact is,
you never know when you’ll need to stop life-threatening bleeding.
Stop the
Bleed is a nationally recognized program rolled out in the aftermath of the
Sandy Hook school shootings. It is designed to arm ordinary citizens with the
skills and knowledge to save lives, by teaching bleeding control methods.
Many people
don’t realize it, but a person can die from blood loss in as little as three
minutes, and in a mass casualty situation, medical help may not be allowed to
enter an area until it is deemed safe.
That means
if you’re on the scene, you need to become an immediate responder. Your ability
to stop the bleeding could mean the difference between life and death for an
injured person.
Stop the
Bleed in Classrooms, Businesses and Community Centers
Across the
country, people are coming together in support of Stop the Bleed. In places
like Ohio, Michigan, and even Connecticut, teachers are learning bleeding
control methods through the program. They want to be ready in the event of a
school shooting, natural disaster or any other situation where bleeding may be
present.
Community
organizations, including local governments, and businesses are also stepping up
to the plate. East Granby has recently agreed to arm their teachers and town
staff with bleeding control training and equipment, joining over half a million
people who have taken part in Stop the Bleed.
Even medical
personnel are embracing the program and improving their knowledge of emergency
bleeding control methods. Of the 341 surgeons who recently completed the
training, nearly 94 percent agreed that teaching bleeding control methods to
the public should be a priority.
Nearby, it’s
often first responders who teach the training. GAA’s Chief of Service, Kate
Coupe, regularly holds classes. These events are open to the public, free of
charge, and are part of our push to prepare our community for better health outcomes.
Stop the
Bleed Training Applicable Day-to-Day
While the
Stop the Bleed program was designed to apply to mass casualty situations, the
basic training principles have application to every-day life. According to the
CDC, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for people aged one to
44.
Many of
these injuries happen in the home. Something as a simple as a kitchen knife
mishap could result in life-threatening bleeding that requires emergency
treatment.
While most
people understand that they need to apply pressure to a wound to stop bleeding,
there are situations where other methods are needed. Some injuries will require
a tourniquet or packing of the wound to stop bleeding, so it’s important to
understand what to use when.
That’s where
Stop the Bleed training comes in. The program teaches all of the basic
bleeding control methods and when to use them. You’ll receive a thorough
overview and even be given hands-on training using special manikins that
simulate different types of wounds.
If a person
on the scene can stop the bleeding before medical first responders arrive, they
have greatly improved the odds of survival for an injured person.
Take Stop
the Bleed Training this Year
You never
know when you may be called upon to save a life. GAA is encouraging all of our
residents, town offices, area businesses and schools to take Stop the Bleed
Training this year.
We are conducting regular classes and are available to come to
your school, office or organizational event. To reserve your spot in a class,
watch our Facebook page
or the upcoming training section of
our website.
If you are a
business, school or community organization wanting to hold Stop the Bleed group
training, please contact Kate Coupe at Granby Ambulance Association.
