May 20-26, 2018, is the 44th annual National EMS Week. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.” To mark the occasion, American Medical Response, International Association of Fire Chiefs and American College of Emergency Physicians are joining forces to provide training in bleeding control and CPR during EMS Week.
Here are some suggestions on how to join the effort:
- Plan to train individuals, organizations, businesses, bystanders or students in your communities (some communities even reach out to beachgoers, grocery shoppers or sports spectators).
- Set up simple training using a manikin and teach bystanders the five simple steps of Compression-Only CPR.
- Provide pressure dressing and tourniquets for demonstration and hands-on practice.
Compression-Only CPR Steps
- Check for responsiveness
- Call 911
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives
- Send someone for an AED
- Keep going until help arrives
Stop the Bleed Steps
- Move to a safe area if needed
- Call 911 or have someone else call
- Have someone get a bleeding control kit if available, look near an AED
- Apply pressure to the wound with your hands
- Apply a dressing to the wound and press
- Apply a tourniquet 2 – 3 inches above the wound
- If bleeding continues place a second tourniquet above the first one
Numbers may be reported here.
SOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians