By Emma Fox, Contributing Writer
Outspoken activist and advocate for those who have lost loved ones to police violence, Tasha Williamson, held a workshop titled “Stop the Bleeding Training” on the night of October 7th at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. This free, hour-long session was aimed to teach attendees techniques to save the life of someone who is bleeding out. Williamson, former mayoral candidate to the City of San Diego, is President and CEO of the nonprofit, Exhaling Justice, which hosted the event.
The workshop was guided by the American College of Surgeons’ program STOP THE BLEED© which walks people through steps that can potentially save a life.
Step 1: Look for life-threatening bleeding.
- Is a trauma first aid kit available?
Step 2:
(no access to trauma first aid kit):
- Use your hands to apply steady pressure directly on the wound with a clean cloth.
(with access to trauma first aid kit):
- Pack the wound with bleeding control gauze or any clean cloth and apply pressure.
Step 3: Apply a tourniquet if the wound is on an arm or leg.
- Remember “Wrap, wind, secure, time”.
- Wrap the tourniquet around the limb above the bleeding site, wind it to tighten until the bleeding stops, secure it shut, and write the time.
This training allowed community members to prepare themselves to stop the bleeding after a shooting or stabbing, or any severe injury.
