Geisinger offers free ‘Stop the Bleed’ training classes
Classes open to public
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON/DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger will host a day of free training sessions to teach the public simple steps on how to stop or slow life-threatening bleeding. Taught by the Geisinger trauma team, the “Stop the Bleed” classes are being offered to highlight Pennsylvania Stop the Bleed Day in May.
Classes will be held Wednesday, May 23, at Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) in Danville and at Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC) in Scranton; and Thursday, May 24, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre:
Wednesday, May 23:
- GCMC: GCMC Professional Office Building, basement auditorium, 315 Colfax Ave., Scranton. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and will be offered every two hours with the last class starting at 4 p.m. Registration: 570-703-7329.
- GMC: GMC trauma conference room, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and will be offered every two hours with the last class starting at 2 p.m. Registration: 570-271-7149.
Thursday, May 24:
- GWV: Two classes will be held on Thursday, May 24, at GWV, 1000 E. Mountain Blvd., in the Kistler Learning Center near the main lobby. Sessions are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Registration: 570-808-5356.
Part of a nationwide campaign launched by the White House, “Stop the Bleed” trains ordinary citizens – and potential bystanders – how to help during a severe-bleeding incident before medical and emergency professionals arrive on-scene. GWV’s program incorporates techniques that include dressing the wound and the use of a tourniquet.
Severe bleeding is a common cause of death during emergency situations and traumatic accidents such as car crashes, violence, and home or industrial accidents, with nearly 35 percent of fatalities occurring before victims even arrive at the hospital, according to the National Trauma Institute.
The program is open to the public and free of charge. Space is limited to 25 attendees per session, so pre-registration is encouraged.