BY RYAN MERARD
On Monday, January 7, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) teachers had to work, as it was a teacher planning day while students got the day off. At CCHS however, these teachers were doing more than planning for the second semester. The Stop The Bleed program made its way to Cooper City to train teachers and staff on how to properly deal with crucial blood loss when the need arises.
Medical staff and personnel from Memorial Regional Hospital came over to CCHS to inform the teachers and staff on how to respond to life-threatening situations as the bystander. The steps taught in the class gave teachers the knowledge necessary to help fight a bleed. From using a clean cloth to compress a blood vessel to applying a tourniquet to stop bleeding, teachers were taught numerous ways to help prevent a victim from dying of blood loss.
This nationwide organization was designed to teach the average person how to respond to a bleeding emergency until professional medical workers arrive. The program aims to educate people on how to save lives as a bystander.
Many of the CCHS teachers found the information given by the program to be useful and are ready to apply their knowledge to help save someone’s life if the time comes.
“I think it definitely has the potential to save lives,” math teacher Scott Sodergren said. “The information given was very useful. Hopefully I’ll never have to use it, but if the time comes, I would know how to respond to the situation.”
According to BleedingControl.org, a person can lose all their blood from a life-threatening hemorrhage in three to five minutes. However, the average Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrive in about five minutes.
During these few minutes before professional help shows up, taking the correct steps can make a difference in whether an injured individual lives or dies. The problem is that not many people know how to deal with situations with major blood loss.
In order to prevent situations like this, the Stop The Bleed program was launched. This nationwide organization was designed to teach the average person how to respond to a bleeding emergency until professional medical workers arrive. The program aims to educate people on how to save lives as a bystander.
“With this training now, the layperson will feel empowered and confident that they can make a real difference, even possibly save someone’s life,” paramedic and trauma services worker at Memorial Regional Trauma Center James Cuoco said. “This is simple training that is invaluable.”
“We hope that everyone takes their training and shares it with their friends, family and loved ones so everyone is prepared in case the need arises.”
As of now, the program is rotating all across Broward County to teach all teachers and staff the essential information needed to help prevent death from blood loss. Teachers all across the nation are being trained by EMS workers and other medical personnel such as nurses, doctors and health educators.
In addition to training teachers and staff in Broward County, they also reach out to the rest of the community, spreading their knowledge to charter and private schools, parks and recreational centers, city hall employees and religious groups.
“I think this has the potential to reach an infinite number of people,” injury and prevention coordinator at Memorial Regional Hospital Rachele Solomon said. “We hope that everyone takes their training and shares it with their friends, family and loved ones so everyone is prepared in case the need arises.”
Photo by Carly Cuoco
