Stop the Bleed training

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Several of our districts up here in the NTX have done Stop the Bleed workshops for school staff. We are now required to "offer" training to certain age groups and teachers (not required for them to attend, though). I learned a thing from a paramedic at our in-service day. I have had my share of eye-rolling experiences with paramedics but this was good:

That one tourniquet you have will likely not be enough. Use whatever you have - belts, cords, coban, whatever you have.

With sucking chest injuries, the fancy packs of pads are essentially gauze coated with vaseline. You can order the supplies and use them for other reasons but large gauze pads (non-absorbent side up) covered with vaseline and taped on three sides do the same thing as those packs.

If the victim is conscious, they may attempt to remove the tourniquet because if you do it right apparently the pain is terrible. If you have extra non-medical help, assign that person to help the person you've just put the tourniquet on to distract that person so you can move on.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the vaseline tip! You can also form a tourniquet out of fabric and any stick-shaped item (pens, Sharpies work well). I took a class over the summer and some of the school nurses said they go to the thrift store and tear up XXL t-shirts to put in each classroom first aid kit. Here's a tutorial on how to do it

[BeckyESRN]

Our resource officer had Stop the Bleed kits installed in the hallways and informed us that we were now trained...no training occurred?‍♀️

[tining, BSN, RN]