Like learning CPR, the hope is that people will become trained on how to assess blood loss, construct wound packs and tie tourniquets in case they are at the scene of a shooting.
In the wake of shootings at schools, shopping malls, concerts and other public venues, medical experts want as many people to know proper bleed control techniques in the event of a mass casualty incidents.
HCA Houston Healthcare Division Chief Nurse Executive Kelli Nations said while EMS gets to scenes within six to eight minutes, a person can bleed out in two to three minutes.
“We really need our bystanders to be able to provide this life saving care while we’re waiting for EMS to arrive,” said Nations. “This could be a shooting. This could be an accident at someone’s home. This could be a motor vehicle accident. Really, any type of event that someone has bleeding, that needs assistance.”
She said you don't have to be in the medical field to learn how to save someone's life.
“They all left knowing how to apply a tourniquet and how to pack a wound,” said Nations. “We’d like to encourage anyone to learn how to apply a tourniquet and pack a wound. Then also to have those on hand so that they’re able to save a life.”
She said there are two Level Two trauma programs—at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and Conroe Regional Medical Center that can provide instructors. Houston Northwest Medical Center is also in pursuit of a Level Two trauma program.
“Stop the Bleed,” a tutorial developed by the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma, is a course designed to prepare the public in the event of accidents and mass casualty incidents.
The course was originally conceived after the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, after which it was determined several lives might have been saved if those on the scene had known how to treat bleeding wounds.