LOCAL school children and members of the public have been taught vital skills around how to recognise and stop life-threatening bleeds.
‘Stop the Bleed Day’ is an annual initiative launched last year, in partnership between Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit and the charity citizenAID.
Trained volunteers have been delivering demos to students – including at Rayner Stephens High School in Dukinfield this year.
Eleven-year-old Damon Misty has personal experience to draw upon, explaining: “I was in a car accident and people helped me by putting a coat round my head and applying pressure, so I think it’s important for young people to learn so they know how to do it for someone else.”
Heidi Thomas, 11, also found it useful, adding: “I feel a lot more confident because before this, I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do.”
Around 3,000 young people across Greater Manchester have taken part in the two ‘Stop the Bleed’ days in schools to date.
Of those, 90 per cent who submitted a post-training survey said they were confident they would know what a life-threatening bleed was and over 70 per cent said they would be confident helping someone with severe bleeding.
It has been so well received that authorities in the West Midlands have also adapted the format to offer training to their residents too.
The initiative teaches people simple techniques such as applying pressure, packing a wound and applying a tourniquet.
It has also been rolled out to commuters, with the aim of highlighting just how quick and easy life-saving skills can be to learn.
Local resident, Liberty Chrismas, 31, thought it was a worthwhile exercise. She said: “I thought I knew a lot of this already but actually that two-minute demonstration made me realise I wasn’t as informed as I’d thought.
“You never know when you’re going to need these skills – you could come across or be involved in an accident and especially as a new parent, I want to make sure I’m prepared for any situation.”
People can find out more about ‘Stop the Bleed Day’ at https://stopthebleedday.uk