Centre LifeLink Encourages Community Members to Get Trained to ‘Stop the Bleed’

In the event of a mass shooting, such as the one at a Florida high school last week, bystanders who can treat life-threatening bleeding wounds before emergency responders arrive become increasingly important. 

That’s why Centre LifeLink EMS, in conjunction with the State College Police Department, is encouraging local organizations and community members to get trained to ‘stop the bleed.’

Launched in October of 2015 by the White House, Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and a call to action, encouraging bystanders to become trained and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before help arrives.

“When it comes to life threatening wounds, minutes, or even seconds, may be all of the time we have,’ said Eliza Shaw, community outreach coordinator for Centre LifeLink. ‘That’s why it is so crucial to be trained in how to use a tourniquet, or pack a wound. These techniques compress veins and arteries to help slow the bleeding, so that we can get them to more definitive care.”

Centre LifeLink has held several Stop the Bleed sessions with local businesses, but wants to see other community businesses and groups, especially schools, get informed.

“In light of recent events nation-wide, we are trying to figure out how to get this information to students and schools,’ Shaw said. ‘It’s not hard to do, and it could impact some of these people tremendously if they are ever in a situation such as a mass-shooting.”

For more information, or to schedule a session, contact Shaw at Eshaw@centrelifelink.com or (814) 237-8163.