Hospital working to decrease trauma deaths by teaching people how to ‘stop the bleed’

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Officials at Grand Strand Medical Center say the most common cause of preventable trauma death in the United States is uncontrolled bleeding.

The hospital hosted a free “Stop the Bleed” workshop on Thursday to teach people how and when to use a tourniquet.

“There are thousands of deaths every year that could be avoided by tourniquet application or wound packing,” said Emergency Operations Manger at Grand Strand Medical Center, Matt Tumbleson. “So we are trying to help prevent those deaths by teaching the Stop the Bleed program.”

Tumbleson said unfortunate events around the county show why it’s so important to learn these skills. Grand Strand Medical Center recently received a grant to purchase thousands of trauma kits and plans to put them in every school in Horry County.

A free Stop the Bleed class will be held on Saturday, March 31 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Coastal Grand Mall. To sign up click: here.