CHARLESTON, W.Va.— With a serious injury, a person can bleed to death in less than five minutes – often before trained emergency responders can arrive. That’s why all West Virginia Emergency Management Division liaisons are certified to provide Stop the Bleed training.
On Sept. 10, EMD Liaisons Shawn Dunbrack and Sandy Green provided Stop the Bleed training to 150 staff members from Webster County Schools.
Stop the Bleed courses provide hands-on training so those who may be near a bleeding victim can provide immediate aid until responders arrive. The course teaches people from all backgrounds three quick actions to control serious bleeding:
- How to use their hands to apply pressure to a wound.
- How to pack a wound and control bleeding.
- How to correctly apply a tourniquet.
These techniques empower people to assist in an emergency and could help save someone with life-threatening injuries.
“As emergency management professionals, part of our focus is on prevention and response,” said EMD Director GE McCabe. “Training sessions like this can help us equip larger numbers of people with life-saving skills.”
When not actively responding to an emergency or disaster, EMD liaisons provide valuable training outreach to community stakeholders. Stop the Bleed is just one of several outreach programs the liaison cadre is available to instruct.
For more information about the Stop the Bleed initiative, please visit stopthebleed.org or bleedingcontrol.org.
If you would like to have a Stop the Bleed course for your agency or civic group, please contact EMD or Liaison Shawn Dunbrack: shawn.d.dunbrack@wv.gov or 304-558-5380.
The American College of Surgeons’ Stop The Bleed program is operated pursuant to a licensing agreement granted it by the U.S. Department of Defense.
