FROM CENTRAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ALEXANDER CITY, AL – July 19, 2023 – Nursing students, faculty, and campus law enforcement earned more training on how to help save lives at Central Alabama Community College (CACC) during the “Stop the Bleed” emergency response course on July 14. Michael Lovelace, a registered nurse and paramedic who teaches the class across the colleges of the Alabama Community College System, conducted the course.
“Stop the Bleed” is a national initiative launched in 2017 by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the ACS Committee. The program aims to educate the public on controlling bleeding, a leading cause of preventable death in trauma situations. The initiative has trained over 2.4 million people, with more than 117,000 instructors in place.
According to Lovelace, once residents are trained in the course, they earn the opportunity to teach the same course to others.
Dr. Jennifer Steele, Director of Nursing at CACC, expressed her enthusiasm for the program. “This training is invaluable for our students and staff. It empowers us to act swiftly and effectively in emergency situations, potentially saving lives before professional help arrives,” she said.
CACC President Jeff Lynn echoed Dr. Steele’s sentiments. “We’re proud to host the ‘Stop the Bleed’ event at CACC. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to community engagement and continuous learning. This training equips our students and staff with the skills to make a real difference in a crisis,” he stated.
The “Stop the Bleed” event at CACC is part of a broader initiative by Chancellor Jimmy Baker for all community colleges in the state.
In addition to “Stop the Bleed,” participants were educated on using Narcan, an antidote for opioid overdoses. Lovelace encouraged everyone to keep Narcan on hand, emphasizing that “we never know when we will need it.”
For more information about the “Stop the Bleed” initiative, visit http://www.stopthebleedcoalition.org and www.stopthebleed.org
