Stop the Bleed - Save a Life

         I am a graduate of Stop the Bleed training. I had not thought much about learning how to stop bleeding. But a couple of facts pushed me to the training offered by our neighborhood hospital, Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center.

Did you know:

·      A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes?

·      The person next to a bleeding victim may very well be the one who's most likely to save him or her from bleeding to death? 

·      The number of people who bleed out is estimated to account for more than 60,000 deaths in the United States and 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year resulting in nearly 75 million years of life lost? 

Good points, but what is the likelihood I will encounter someone who is bleeding to death?Consider this:

·      Two common household accidents - a bad cut or a broken bone – can cause major bleeding. A fall can cause either one. This can happen in every person’s home.

·      Car accidents can cause life-threatening bleeding. If you are first on the scene and EMTs are more than 5 minutes away, the person can die from blood loss.

·      A very LA issue – an earthquake – a mass disaster that strains emergency services can cause a problem for a person with a bleeding issue who cannot be reached quickly.

Bottom line – taking one hour to learn to stop the bleed could help you, a family member, a neighbor, or others. Take an hour and learn to stop the bleed. Your family and neighbors thank you!

         Sign up by emailing Jesssica.Brase@commonspirit.org. Training is the second Friday of every month from 12 pm to 1 pm in Leavey Hall at California Hospital – 1401 S. Grand Avenue. Jessica will send you more information when you sign up. Sign up for Friday, July 12. If July doesn’t work, mark your calendar for August 9.

By Debra Shrout