Approximately 120 eleventh and twelfth graders from Pitman High School’s anatomy, physiology and sports medicine classes came together Wednesday morning to watch a special presentation and receive unique, hands-on instruction from medical professionals and local nursing students on how to recognize and care for bleeding injuries.
Stop the Bleed is a national program aimed at raising awareness of basic actions to stop life threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies and man-made and natural disasters. Locally, the free training is provided by Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with help from students in the Stanislaus State nursing program.
Pitman students were given instruction on how to apply pressure and how to pack open wounds and how to use tourniquets, all while being as safe and sanitary as possible.
According to presenter Rena Bryant, R.N., who serves as the injury prevention coordinator for Trauma Services at Doctors Medical, the number one cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. It’s why she believes it is important that everyone take time to learn the life-saving techniques.
“Bleeding situations can happen literally anywhere at any time. You may not think so, but accidents can happen anytime in your daily life,” she told the group of students.
“Crazy shootings, car accidents, cutting yourself when cooking, accidents while in woodshop or in the auto shop, in sports… There are so many scenarios in which bleeding injuries can happen.”
Following the presentation, Stan State’s nursing students helped each member of the audience practice applying pressure and using tourniquets on imaginary wounds.
Students were well prepared by campus science teacher and HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) advisor Kim Runyan, as they answered several questions correctly and were already equipped with surgical gloves in their backpacks.
Raney Hicks serves as the community outreach chair for the Student Nurses' Association at Stanislaus State and spoke about the importance of students like her engaging with youth in the community and encouraging safety and wellness.
“As students, it’s very easy for us to get caught up in all our homework and things like that, but events like this remind us why we do this,” Hicks said. “Getting to interact with these students and being hands-on is a driving force in our program, and its super fun… It’s fun to see them engaging and understanding the importance of helping each other out and learning more about our bodies. We’re trying to save as many lives as we can, and it’s fun to see the students excited about learning all this.”
On a similar note, Bryant hopes that the program can encourage students to go from helplessly standing by in an emergency situation to becoming immediate responders.
“The more we can spread the word about this program, the more community members can sign up and learn these methods and the more they can share it with others,” she said. “All that results, ultimately, into lives being saved.”
Students from Turlock High School are expected to take the same training in the spring.
Those interested in learning more about Stop the Bleed or wanting to take the training themselves can do so at www.stopthebleed.org. There are online courses available, as well as resources to find local presenters for large groups.
