Every minute counts in an emergency, and bystanders — family, friends, good Samaritans — often are the first people at the scene. Medical professional say these “immediate responders” play a crucial role in a victim’s survival.
Makeshift tourniquets and bandages were critical to the survival of victims during the mass shooting Sunday in Las Vegas, officials said.
In order to train more people to be effective immediate responders, the paramedic division at Denver Health Medical Center is offering a series of free training classes.
“Trauma victims can quickly die from uncontrolled bleeding, often within five to 10 minutes of the incident,” Denver Health paramedic division assistant chief Justin Harper said in a statement. “Comparable to how community members learn and perform CPR, they should also learn proper bleeding control techniques, which can help them act as immediate responders to help save lives.”
Denver Health began offering the classes in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s “Stop the Bleed” campaign, launched in October 2015. The class typically costs $25. Denver Health also offered a series of free classes following the Orlando nightclub massacre.
“Attendance doesn’t always stay up in these classes,” hospital spokesman Josh Rasmussen said. “It drives attendance up when it’s in the forefront of people’s minds. It’s a good opportunity to have more education, and we really need to maximize education of the community at large.”
Participants will learn to recognize severe bleeding and how to properly intervene — one of the most important steps in responding to a traumatic event, Rasmussen said. Students will use Equipment that simulates severe bleeding enables students to immediately apply the techniques they learn.
“The course spans the full gamut of what a person can do, and make a bystander a resourceful immediate responder,” Rasmussen said. “The people already there on the scene while time is expiring can absolutely save somebody’s life.”
The classes will be held 5-6:15 p.m. daily, Oct. 23-27, at the Rita Bass Trauma EMS Education Institute at 190 W. 6th Ave.
Preregistration is required.
