I.F. Fire Dept. teaches citizens how to “Stop the Bleed”

The Idaho Falls Fire Department taught life saving classes today as part of National Stop the Bleed Day.

Stop the Bleed Day is a national campaign to teach civilians how to respond if someone has a life-threatening bleed. If you come upon an accident, how can you tell if someone needs immediate assistance?

“Any copious amounts of spurting or arterial blood indicate a wound that could cause a person to go into shock,” said Chief Eric Day with Idaho Falls EMS. “So if you see a lot of blood, then that’s something that needs to be addressed immediately.”

There are a few steps to follow when attempting to stop someone from serious bleeding.

“You wanna do direct pressure,” said Randy Pitcher with the Idaho Falls Fire Department. “You have a roll of gauze or roll of toilet paper, wash cloth, something clean. Put direct pressure on it and try to make it stop bleeding. If that doesn’t work, then we can advance to using our roll of gauze and stuffing it, packing the wound.”

If those don’t work, next is a tourniquet. It should be placed about two to three inches above the wound and wrapped tight. You then take the stick and turn it until the bleeding stops. If you’re in an emergency where you don’t have a tourniquet, a piece of webbing, a long-sleeve or a strap off a backpack and a stick can work as well.

Idaho Falls EMS says it’s become more and more important for civilians to learn these skills.

“Just because of the long times it sometimes it takes EMS to get on scene and provide assistance,” Chief Day said. “And because of the nature of our culture now where people have to potential to be exposed to mass traumas, and enabling people to help themselves and their community.”

Idaho Falls EMS says they hope to have more classes available to the public in the future.