Bleeding is the #1 preventable cause of death after a traumatic injury—it is important to be able to identify and intervene when there is life-threatening bleeding present.
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System partners with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to provide Stop the Bleed® to the public in the Watertown area.
Our Emergency Department often sees patients that have been severely injured on the job, on the farm, or around their home resulting in significant blood loss. By training individuals in our community on the simple steps to limit blood loss until professionals arrive, we will save lives.
Stop the Bleed® is a training created for lay people to learn the basics of bleeding control. This is a “train the trainer” course. Local organizations and businesses can schedule training for select individuals who can then disseminate the information to the rest of the company or organization. These courses typically last no more than 90 minutes and include a formal presentation followed by hands-on practice of applying direct pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet to stop bleeding. If you are interested in scheduling a Stop the Bleed® training, call Morgan S., our Trauma Nurse Leader in Emergency Services, at 605-882-7833.
In addition, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System will be conducting public classes at the upcoming Watertown Winter Farm Show and Ladies Night Out events in February 2024. More information to follow.
Stop the Bleed® was created following the events of Sandy Hook Elementary School to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. Thanks to Federal grants, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has been providing training to local schools, but this will be the first time we are offering classes to the general public.
Living and working in a rural area, bleeding emergencies are a common occurrence, and knowing how to react could be the difference between life and death.
For more information about ACS and the Stop the Bleed® program, watch the video below in which Dr. David S. Shapiro, MD, FACS refers to the Stop the Bleed® program to "the CPR of bleeding."