Even the quickest response by emergency personnel to a traumatic injury is likely to take several minutes.
When someone is suffering from severe bleeding, that might not be fast enough to guarantee their survival.
“An adult with a severe bleed can die within five minutes,” said Angela Castillo, a registered nurse and the injury prevention coordinator for The University of Toledo Medical Center’s trauma program. “No matter how long it takes professional help to arrive, bystanders are going to be the first people on scene. It’s very important they’re able to act quickly to help.”
On Thursday, Oct. 20, UTMC’s trauma program will host three Stop the Bleed training sessions on Main Campus to teach everyday people techniques they can use to slow or stop extensive bleeding, buying time for professional medics to arrive and get the patient to a trauma center.
The hands-on training, which is open to faculty, staff and students, will begin at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. in Carlson Library Room 1005.
Registration is encouraged by calling 419.383.6156, but walk-ins are welcome.
Stop the Bleed is a national initiative led by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma to bring basic bleeding control training to the public.
Castillo, who will lead the sessions at UToledo, said participants will be taught how to use their hands to apply pressure, how to pack a wound and how to correctly apply a tourniquet.
The session also will cover the situations in which each technique is most appropriate and discuss how bystanders can use items they have on hand for makeshift wound packing or tourniquets.
“As we have seen over the last several years, mass shootings can happen anywhere. These are unspeakable things, but we just can’t be prepared enough,” Castillo said. “But it’s not just about acts of violence. Car crashes, accidents — if you’re that first person there to apply pressure or put on a tourniquet, you can save a life. We’ve put a big emphasis on learning CPR. This is just as important.”
UTMC also offers Stop the Bleed training every other Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. in Dowling Hall Room 040, located in the basement of the UTMC Medical Pavilion.
The Wednesday sessions are open to the public. The next session will be Wednesday, Oct. 26.
