A revolutionary first aid program that teaches a simple 3-step strategy to prevent critically injured people from bleeding to death at accidents, is being rolled out across Queensland by the Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI).
JTI Education Co-lead and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Trauma surgeon, Professor Michael Muller, recently delivered STOP THE BLEED® training to 15 emergency response technicians at the Jellinbah metallurgical coal mine near Bluff, about 175km west of Rockhampton.
“STOP THE BLEED® is aimed at the lay person, in a similar vein to CPR training,” said Professor Muller, (pictured below left with wife Karen, an experienced Trauma Nurse Practitioner, and the Jellinbah team).
“Participants are taught techniques that, in an emergency, can limit an injured person’s bleeding and stop it becoming life threatening.”
As the main philanthropic partner of JTI, the RBWH Foundation was honoured to connect Jellinbah Group with JTI trauma specialists. Jellinbah Group has been a supporter of the Foundation since 2008 and a major donor to RBWH Foundation Giving Day.
“JTI plays a critical role in Australia in research and clinical trials, innovation and rehabilitation,” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.
“Just as importantly, it also delivers trauma education and injury prevention programs across Queensland that build the knowledge and skills of our frontline providers of trauma care.”
Professor Muller said STOP THE BLEED® focused on three life-saving techniques:
- Using hands to apply pressure to a wound
- Packing a wound to control bleeding
- Correctly applying a tourniquet.
“Tourniquets haven’t been widely used in the past few decades but for the general public, under instruction from a Triple Zero operator, they can be lifesaving,” said Professor Muller.
Queensland Ambulance will teach STOP THE BLEED® in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities using traditional Yarning Circles. The program has also been incorporated into the P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) program, which is supported by the RBWH Foundation and taught to high school students across the state.
Professor Muller said the most tragic trauma death was one that could be prevented.
“When bleeding is life threatening, time is of the essence.”
“Stop the Bleed” was developed in the United States in the aftermath of a devastating mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Twenty students and 6 adults were killed in the shooting.
“A group of trauma surgeons realised that a lot of critical blood loss could have been minimised or maybe stopped with simple first aid measures,” said Professor Muller.
To support life-saving research and patient care innovation, like this, please donate today at rbwhfoundation.com.au
