"Stop the Bleed" presented to Lake Tahoe Unified teachers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Teachers at South Tahoe High stayed after school Tuesday to learn what Homeland Security and the FBI want them to - how to correctly apply a tourniquet and help survivors should there be a mass casualty event.

Level III Trauma Center surgeon, Kimberly Evans, MD, FACS and Barton’s Trauma Program Manager, Cate Neal, RN joined South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Captain Kim George in presenting "Stop the Bleed," a programs created by the Department of Homeland Security and American College of Surgeons to teach lay people how to care for trauma victims.

Vice Principal Justin Zunino (of both STHS and STMS) invited the team to train the teachers at the high school, and future training will be given to teachers at the middle school and all elementary schools.

“While no one wants to imagine the horrors of a mass casualty event, the fact is that these tragedies are occurring more frequently,” said Dr. Evans. “Many people in these disasters die from extremity bleeding, and some simple treatment techniques could help save their lives."

Through a grant from the Barton Foundation, each school will be equipped with a special backpack full of tourniquets, bandages, gloves and other supplies, each valued at approximately $1,000.

The goal of the Department of Defense and the American College of Surgeons is to empower every teacher and as many civilians as possible to make a difference in a life-threatening emergency by teaching them the basic techniques of bleeding control.

What Dr. Evans taught the teachers Tuesday surprised many, including a common error that belts can be used in lieu of tourniquets to stop someone from bleeding to death. Different methods of applying pressure are used depending on the location of the wound. Tourniquets can only be used on arms and legs, while necks, underarms and groin areas need firm, continuous pressure such as that applied by hands and fingers.

Belts shouldn't be used as they can loosen without your knowledge and they don't come with a windlass, a type of winch used especially on tourniquets that keep them as tight as necessary.

Common mistakes with compression are:
- Not using a tourniquet or waiting too long to apply it when there is life-threatening bleeding,
- Not making the tourniquet tight enough to stop bleeding,
- Not using a second tourniquet if needed,
- Loosening the tourniquet to allow for blood flow - Do Not Loosen as it causes unacceptable additional blood loss,
- Removing a tourniquet - only a paramedic or physician should loosen or remove it once applied.

Also joining in during Tuesday's presentation at South Tahoe High was Salma Munoz, Barton Trauma Registrar.

More information regarding Barton Health’s emergency services, Level III Trauma Center and trauma preparedness are available at bartonhealth.org/emergencydepartment. To request a Stop the Bleed training at your organization with Barton Health, call 530.543.5654. More info on Stop the Bleed can be found at https://www.bleedingcontrol.org/.