WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center hosts Stop the Bleed training for Berkeley County Schools

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – The WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center Trauma Department hosted a free Stop the Bleed training workshop for employees of Berkeley County Schools.

“Stop the Bleed is a nationwide initiative from the American College of Surgeons to educate the public on the basics of hemorrhage control, including proper wound packing and tourniquet application,” Donnie Grubb, trauma coordinator for Berkeley Medical Center, said.  “We have partnered with Martinsburg Fire Department, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and BSR Training to roll out this community-wide initiative aimed at empowering the public to take control during a bleeding emergency and help save a life before professional rescuers arrive.”

Representatives from more than 30 Berkeley County schools participated in the Stop the Bleed training workshop.

“We appreciate the opportunity for our staff to train with the assistance of Stop the Bleed and WVU Medicine,” Elaine Bobo, communications director for Berkeley County Schools, said. “While it is impossible to train for every possible situation in a school emergency, this training will enable staff members to react rather than panic. The information and skills shared can be applied in any environment, both professionally and personally, and we are hopeful that each person trained can share the basics of handling bleeding emergencies before the professionals arrive.”

WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center will continue to offer free Bleeding Control Basics courses for the community as part of the Stop the Bleed initiative.