The number one cause of preventable death after injury is uncontrolled bleeding.

That’s why the Community Health Education Center is offering the Stop the Bleed training course to organizations across the Willamette Valley.

“We teach participants bleeding control techniques of using hands to apply direct pressure to a wound, how to pack a wound to control bleeding and how to apply a tourniquet,” said Health Educator Erin Clubb.

Hands-on training

Fitness and Wellness Coordinator Jared Myers said much of the class is spent focusing on practical skills. That includes working with mannequins with simulated blood.

“Every participant gets to glove up and work with a mannequin,” he said. “Instructors are right there, watching and giving pointers until participants are able to demonstrate the correct skills to stop the bleed.”

Myers said the class aims to prepare people to stop life-threatening bleeding.

Tools for empowerment

“To push this education out keeps people from being bystanders and gives them the tools and confidence to hopefully save someone’s life,” Myers said.

This training started at a national level after the Sandy Hook shooting.

“Many lives could have been saved had people had this training,” said Clubb. “What we’re trying to do is preserve life and prevent long term injury.”

Tourniquets will also be raffled off during class so participants can start building their own kits.

“We want to empower people to feel like they have a skill with an impact,” said Clubb. “Not that we want people anticipating emergencies but having the thought in the back of their mind — that they would know what to do.”

How to sign up

The CHEC has offered this class to schools and local Special Emergency Reaction Teams and it’s available for groups of all sizes.