GREENWOOD - Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma. Just as CPR training has saved lives, teaching more people how to respond properly to uncontrolled bleeding can do the same, according to registered nurse Linda Nelson, trauma program manager at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith.
“Our nation has learned some painful lessons from school shootings and bombings. We have learned that we must teach the public, lay responders and educators to work together as a team in order to save lives,” said Nelson, part of a group of medical professionals who will train school personnel locally how to stop bleeding in emergency situations.
Mercy is partnering with trainers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Services, Fort Smith Emergency Medical Services and others to bring the Stop the Bleed class to Greenwood School District. Headed by Clayton Goddard with Metropolitan Emergency Services in Little Rock, the group will lead training for 50 to 70 school teachers, nurses and administrators at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at Greenwood schools’ administrative offices, 420 N. Main St.
“This is the largest class to date in the River Valley region that I am aware of, and we commend Greenwood schools for bringing together so many partners for this training,” Nelson said. “I applaud their commitment to their community and their students in providing this lifesaving training.”
Arkansas is leading the nation in bringing the Stop the Bleed program into communities. Schools that participate in the training will receive a wall-mounted unit with five individual tourniquet kits thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
Stop the Bleed is a national campaign that provides the public with proper bleeding control techniques, including how to use their hands, dressings and tourniquets. The program trains bystanders to be immediate volunteer responders and gives them the skills to stop bleeding in emergency situations to save lives until professional responders arrive.
“Stop the Bleed has been proven to save lives, and we are pleased to be part of the effort to train as many Arkansans as possible in this program,” said Dr. Nathaniel Smith, ADH director and state health officer. “Trauma is the number one cause of death for Arkansans between the ages of 1 and 45. This program empowers people to act when they find themselves in the role of first responder and is an important way to decrease the number of deaths from trauma.”
