Short course offered at Prisma Health Tuomey to provide training in bleeding control

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What would you do if you were in a situation where someone was bleeding significantly and no one else was able to help? After an automobile accident, for example, or even during an intentional event like a mass shooting?

Would you like to be better prepared for such an unplanned situation?

Severe bleeding in any situation can cause shock or death within five or 10 minutes - possibly before professional medical help arrives. Uncontrolled bleeding is the No. 1 cause of death after a mass casualty event. That's why Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital is offering two sessions of a "Stop the Bleed, Save a Life" course designed to provide civilians the skills and basic tools to stop uncontrolled bleeding in any emergency situation.

These free sessions are open to anyone interested. They will be held on Friday, Sept. 27, and again Friday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon in Classroom One at the hospital, 129 N. Washington St.

Contact Sherri Johnson at (803) 774-8680 or e-mail Courtney.Gainey@PrismaHealth.org to register.

"Given the violence we are seeing in the world today, anyone can find themselves in the role of first responder," said Michelle Logan-Owens, Tuomey's chief operations executive. "We think that it is vitally important for us to equip our community members with basic techniques that could save a life. We are prayerful that no one ever has to use these techniques, but preparation is important."

"We are pleased to bring this potentially lifesaving training to our community free of charge. Providing practical skills and information can be such a positive benefit when the unexpected occurs," said Courtney Gainey, manager of Nursing Education at the hospital.

The class will be led by Mark Morris, pre-hospital liaison in the Trauma Administration of Prisma Health.

The Stop the Bleed campaign is an initiative of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the Hartford Consensus, a coalition of law enforcement, the federal government and the medical community to improve survivability from manmade or natural mass casualty events.

"Civilians need basic training in Bleeding Control principles so they are able to provide immediate, frontline aid until first responders are able to take over care of an injured person," the program states. "There may be a delay between the time of injury and the time a first responder is on the scene. Without civilian intervention in these circumstances, preventable deaths will occur."

To learn more about the campaign or to purchase a bleeding control kit, visit BleedingControl.org.