Would you know what to do if someone was critically injured?

Last week, a man was shot at Memorial Park making us wonder what could, and what should we do if you see someone who is critically injured.

“We can actually bleed out in less than two minutes from a larger arterial bleed,” says former San Antonio police officer and current chief consultant at Con10gency, Richard Smith.

“The first thing we would recommend,” Smith says “is making sure it’s safe enough to treat them. Once we’ve done that, we want to do an assessment for massive hemerages. We want to put direct pressure on the area. Let’s say it’s still bleeding, then we may need to figure out how we can fashion a tourniquet.

Tourniquets are now regarded as the number one tool to help bleeding from extremities. Memorial Hospital says a belt can work just fine. But Smith disagrees, saying one of the best things you can use is a seatbelt.

Lori Morgan with the trauma outreach division at Memorial Hospital demonstrated for us what to do if someone is bleeding out. It’s all part of the “Stop the Bleed” campaign which takes place beginning next month.

You can request members of the hospital to come and teach your organization or work place how to handle trauma. They will also install a trauma kit on the wall, similar to an AED.