UCHealth to train Coloradans in life-saving techniques

Stop The Bleed workshops will give community knowledge and confidence to provide immediate care in medical emergencies
March 23, 2018
UCHealth Emergency Medical Services deputy chief Braden Applegate desmonstrates how to apply a tourniquet and control bleeding.
UCHealth Emergency Medical Services deputy chief Braden Applegate demonstrates how to apply a tourniquet and control bleeding in October 2017 during a Stop The Bleed mini training experience at the Family Safety and Emergency Preparedness Expo at The Ranch in Loveland. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.

Would you be prepared to save a life if you suddenly had to?

UCHealth is working to educate as many Coloradans as possible on how to stop uncontrolled bleeding in emergency situations. To do this, UCHealth experts is training the public at several Stop The Bleed workshops throughout the state.

The skills learned in these interactive workshops are simple and could save a life.

Stop The Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call to action for people to learn and be prepared to use different kinds of life-saving techniques to assist in a bleeding emergency until emergency responders arrive. Life-threatening bleeding can occur from a number of incidents, including home injuries, motor vehicle crashes, active shooters and other mass casualty events.

“A person can die from bleeding within five minutes if they don’t get help immediately,” said Kerry Borrego, a UCHealth trauma outreach program manager. “We want everyone in our community to know what to do and to be confident enough to intervene quickly if someone needs help.”

Here are a few of UCHealth’s upcoming Stop The Bleed events planned for the public:

Northern Colorado

March 31: A free two-hour Stop The Bleed workshop will be held from 9-11 a.m. in the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins. For more information, call (970) 495-7504 or email [email protected]. The training was designed for anyone age 12 and older. Interested participants younger than 12 may attend the event at the discretion of a parent or guardian.

Colorado Springs

March 31: Six free one-hour Stop The Bleed classes will be held at the UCHealth Community Education Center, 2050 KidsKare Point, in Colorado Springs. Class start times are at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Metro Denver

April 9: Three free one-hour Stop The Bleed classes will be held at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, United Club Level, 1701 Bryant St. in Denver. Class start times are at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. For more information, call 720.848.6500 or email [email protected].

About the author

Kelly Tracer is a media relations specialist at UCHealth, based in northern Colorado. For nearly 20 years, she worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and designer before diving into the world of health care communications.

She believes there is an amazing story inside everyone and considers it an honor to get to meet and work with so many extraordinary people – patients, families, providers, volunteers and staff – every day. She is also fascinated by health care innovation and programs that empower and inspire people and families to live healthier lives.

A native of Nebraska, Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She and her husband have two children and enjoy paddle boarding all summer and skiing all winter.