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A Simple Goal The goal is to make the ability to stop bleeding as commonplace as CPR. "It's an easy skill to teach and learn," says Denise. "And it will save lives." Denise stresses that in a trauma situation, time is of the essence. "A person can bleed to death in as little as three minutes," she says. "There simply isn't time to wait for first responders. This training gives bystanders the confidence they need to help." The Hartford Consensus: A Call to Action In April 2013, just a few months after the active shooter disaster at Sandy Hook Elementary, representatives from a select group of public safety organizations including law enforcement, fire, trauma care and the military, convened in Hartford, Conn., to develop consensus around strategies to increase survivability during mass-casualty events. Injuries from these events generally involve severe bleeding which, if left unattended, can result in death in as little as three minutes. Participants concluded that by providing civilian bystanders the skills and basic tools to stop uncontrolled bleeding in an emergency situation, lives would be saved. The result—"Stop the Bleed" is one of our nation's largest public health campaigns. ■ National Program Localized The program was launched locally in the aftermath of the Freeman High School shooting, with financial support from Providence Health Care Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The original program included classes for school personnel and Stop the Bleed kits, which include basic supplies necessary to stop uncontrolled bleeding in an emergency situation. Thanks to additional funding from LabCorp, Denise and the team have been able to distribute 1,000 kits, and classes have been expanded to include businesses, government agencies, student groups and other organizations. "People want to help," she says. "We just need to give them the skills and tools to do so." Classes Available Free Stop the Bleed classes are held the second Monday of each month, from 5 to 7pm on the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center campus. Walk-ins are welcome. You can also schedule a Stop the Bleed class for your organization by calling Denise McCurdy at (509) 474-4924. A minimum of ten participants is preferred. Call 9-1-1 or ask someone to do it for you. Ensure your own safety. Identify life-threatening bleeding. Compress and control bleeding by applying direct pressure or a tourniquet to the wound. Do you know what to do in a bleeding emergency? Interested in purchasing Stop the Bleed kits for your organization? Kits are available through Providence Health Care Foundation for just $40 each (well below the $100 retail price). Kits were assembled by volunteers from WSU's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Each kit contains: Compression bandage, gauze, two pairs of gloves, marking pen, tourniquet and instruction book. Purchase kits online: providence.thankyou4caring.org Pick Up a Kit. A Community Better Prepared Ken Johnson, Battalion Chief with the Cheney Fire Department, and Allison Hahn, a nurse at Cheney High School, have worked with Denise to bring training to their community. "It isn't all that hard to teach people how to do this, and it makes a huge impact," says Allison. Allison explains that while mass shootings may have been the original motivation behind the program, a bleeding accident can happen in woodshop, a cooking class or even an art class. "You never know when you may be a first responder." "We're empowering bystanders to make a difference," says Chief Johnson. He estimates that approximately 600 people in Cheney have received Stop the Bleed training, which is now incorporated into the monthly CPR class. "Thanks to all the hard work that Denise and others have done, we have a community that is better prepared than most and that's pretty cool." 1 2 3 4 READ ON YOUR TABLET OR PHONE: PROVIDENCE.ORG/HEARTBEAT 15

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