BEND, OR -- Swift action by a bystander could save the life of someone in a sudden bleeding emergency, but many people are afraid to jump into action. 

"It’s actually fairly easy to stop someone’s life-threatening bleeding with just some simple pressure and packing a wound with something like a shirt or a towel, or something like that, that you might have nearby," says St. Charles Trauma Program Coordinator and Registered Nurse Jeremy Buller. "Even if you don’t exactly know what life-threatening bleeding is, any bleeding is a problem. So holding pressure, packing the wound or placing a tourniquet on a limb is an easy way to keep that blood inside the body."

Buller leads a free two-hour “Stop the Bleed Class” at the Bend hospital, which returns this week after a pandemic hiatus. "What we’re going to teach you usually takes about 20 minutes to 30 minutes. And then we allow enough time, and as much time as they need, to do the hands-on portion: packing wounds, holding pressure on wounds and how to place a tourniquet properly." He adds, "We actually talk you through some of the scenarios and situations you might find yourself in: riding a bike down a trail and falling down, and getting impaled by a limb or cut by a limb, or something like that; more everyday situations where you might need to use some of this stuff. And then, kind of talk through how easy it is and how important it is." 

Buller tells KBND News bystanders often are afraid to leap into action. Calling 911 is an important first step, "Bend paramedics have a pretty rapid response time, but we’ve also trained all of our first responder law enforcement folks on how to stop the bleed. And they actually have bleeding kits and tourniquets in their cars."

The "Stop the Bleed" class is offered at St. Charles Bend Wednesday, January 17 at 10 a.m. and noon, Saturday, February 3 at 10 a.m., and Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m.  Classes are limited to 20 people and registration is required.