In the wake of the 1 October tragedy in Las Vegas and the countless school shootings that have occurred across the country in recent years, Roseman University is now working to add “Stop the Bleed” training to its Basic Life Support (BLS) training required for all students and faculty, and made available to staff.
“There are a few medical emergencies where immediate bystander action may be the only way to save a life because there is not enough time to wait for first-responders to arrive,” said Dr. Chris Burns, director of case-based learning and associate professor of biomedical sciences with Roseman’s College of Medicine. “Serious bleeding can be fatal in just a few minutes if not treated quickly and effectively. This can be difficult to do without any training or action plan.”
Dr. Burns, who is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Dr. Leiana Oswald are spearheading the effort to bring Stop the Bleed training to 
Roseman faculty and staff and eventually to all students as part of their required BLS training. The first trainings will take place later this month on the Henderson and South Jordan campuses.
The 90 minute training teaches individuals how and when to use a tourniquet, and how to make a tourniquet using clothing or other everyday objects. It also provides training on the safest way to pack a wound in a non-sterile environment, and the importance of applying direct pressure to bleeding wounds.
After volunteering at local hospitals in the hours following the 1 October event, Roseman’s nursing students expressed the need to learn the skills to stop bleeds in similar situations. Last month, the College of Nursing’s Nursing Honors partnered with University Medical Center’s Healthy Living Institute to present a Stop the Bleed training on the Henderson campus for all interested nursing students. According to Nursing Honors Vice President, Sarah Liedlich, 97 nursing students and 8 volunteers (comprised of 7 students and a clinical instructor) participated in the training. All participants received a certificate of completion.
“Stop the Bleed is an important training for students as well as the community, because the skills taught can help save a life,” said Liedlich. “As nursing students, in school we learn how to treat patients in a healthcare setting, but Stop The Bleed is all about how to assist people in a traumatic event where time is critical.”
Dr. Burns adds that in addition to high profile mass casualty events serious bleeding can also result from accidents around the home. When paramedics are unable to immediately arrive and render care, often it’s the individuals in the immediate area that are left to care for the injured until help arrives.
“We look forward to working with all of our colleges and academic programs to offer these important skills to all students and faculty,” said Dr. Oswald. “In addition to teaching Stop the Bleed skills, a goal is to stock an anti-bleeding kit in every Roseman University classroom to add to current supplies available during emergency response.”
Author
Jason Roth
Vice President, Communications
Roseman University of Health Sciences