Rapides Trauma Center to hold Stop the Bleed training

Rapides Regional Trauma Center is recognizing National Stop the Bleed Day on May 23 by conducting multiple free hands-on Stop the Bleed training for the community.

The No. 1 cause of preventable death after injury is blood loss, according to the American College of Surgeons. Learning how to stabilize a bleeding victim and apply a tourniquet could help save a life.

Training sessions will be held at:

• HP Long in Pineville from 8:00am until 8:30am
• South Tower Lobby at Rapides Regional Medical Center from 10:00am-11:00am
• Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital Atrium from 11:00am-Noon

“Stop the Bleed is a national awareness and education campaign focused on preventing victims from bleeding to death,” said Shawn Moreau, MSN, TCRN-CEN, Rapides Regional’s Trauma Program director. “Bleeding is the number one preventable cause of death after an injury. And bystanders are often the first to offer aid.”

During training, which takes less than 10 minutes, participants will learn three quick techniques that could save a life during a bleeding emergency:

• How to use your hands to apply pressure to a wound
• How to pack a wound to control bleeding
• How to correctly apply a tourniquet.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes. Individuals closest to someone with life threatening injuries are best positioned to provide critical, life-saving care before first responders can arrive.

“It’s simple, quick to teach and easy to apply. Everyone from children to adults can be taught,” says Moreau.