“We are going to educate our community on what to do in case they come across some kind of a tragic situation such as a mass shooting, a car wreck,” said Scott Coppenbarger, director of marketing and community relations at OU Medical Center.

The training teaches what to do when a person has excessive bleeding and how to effectively lessen the bleeding with the provided kit and with common, everyday objects.

“Don’t be scared! Don’t be scared to help someone! Don’t be scared to apply a tourniquet. Just let your heart and your feelings take you,” said Liz Webb, director of inpatient trauma services at OU Medical Center.
Applying a tourniquet and packing the wound with gauze are the two best ways Oklahomans can stop someone from bleeding out and it only takes a few tools.

Following the training course, each person will be given a kit that contains a CAT tourniquet, gauze, gloves, trauma shears and a sharpie. With this kit, a bleeding wound can be stabilized until first responders get to the scene.

“It’s important to get a hands-on experience so if you find yourself in a situation, you can recall, I’ve done this before, I know what I’m doing, and you know how to properly do it,” said Lindsey Henson, pediatric trauma coordinator at OU Medical Center.

It may get messy, but a mess is better than another lost life in Oklahoma. If you have the right tools, you too can help save someone from bleeding out. Members of the community can sign up for a training course as soon as today.