A STOP THE BLEED® participant “packs” a bullet wound with a t-shirt (Durham College).

Thomas Bezruki holds up a package of combat-grade medical gauze and a red t-shirt.

“You would be amazed at how much material it takes to pack a large, deep wound. If you don’t have gauze on hand, even a t-shirt will work,” he tells the group gathered around him, a mix of first responders from the Oshawa area, students and staff from Durham College, and the general public.

A member of the group steps forward to practice packing a deep laceration on a realistic-looking fake limb, complete with simulated blood pouring out of it. She uses almost the entire package of gauze to “pack” the wound and applies direct pressure with her hands before the bleeding finally stops.

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“Anyone who does this training can help save a life.”

– Corey Freedman, Manager, Trauma Services at Sunnybrook

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The demonstration is part of STOP THE BLEED®, a training course developed by the American College of Surgeons that provides civilian bystanders with the skills and tools to stop uncontrolled bleeding in an emergency situation. Instruction is delivered using a combination of presentations and hands-on practice.

Sunnybrook’s Centre for Injury Prevention brought the program to Canada for the first time in 2017, and has since trained thousands of people.

“We show people how to stop life-threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies, natural disasters and mass casualty incidents. Anyone who does this training can help save a life,” says Corey Freedman, Manager of Trauma Services at Sunnybrook and a certified STOP THE BLEED® facilitator.

The facilitators who helped certify over 200 people at Canada’s largest-ever STOP THE BLEED® training event on May 13, 2022.

On May 13, 2022, Sunnybrook partnered with Durham College to hold the largest STOP THE BLEED® training event ever held in Canada, helping 217 people become certified.

The event was held a week before the Victoria Day long weekend, which is often referred to as the unofficial start of trauma season. Trauma hospitals like Sunnybrook traditionally see a significant increase in traumatic injuries over the summer months, making this a key time to offer the training to large groups. Watch of video of the event on Instagram.

Course facilitators included several staff members from Sunnybrook and Bezruki, the Manager of Emergency Management at Durham College and a former Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) medic in the Canadian military.

Thomas Bezruki demonstrates the proper use of a tourniquet to stop uncontrolled bleeding (Durham College).

Bezruki says Durham College has installed over 30 STOP THE BLEED® kits, which include essential items like tourniquets, gloves and gauze, across its Oshawa and Whitby campuses. He hopes other institutions follow suit by offering the training course and installing the kits, and he encourages individuals to sign up for STOP THE BLEED® training.

“Everyone should know how to stop bleeding after an injury. The more people who know how to control bleeding in someone who is injured, the greater the chances are that person will survive,” he says.

Sunnybrook offers public and private STOP THE BLEED® training opportunities. Learn more and register for an upcoming course at sunnybrook.ca/stopthebleed.

The post Stopping the bleed to save a life appeared first on Your Health Matters.

It can feel great to get outside after many months of being stuck inside, whether that means lighting a bonfire, BBQing dinner or lighting off some fireworks to celebrate Victoria Day.

The May long weekend also marks the beginning of ‘trauma season’, and our Ross Tilley Burn Centre (RTBC) has already started to see a spike in admissions of patients who have been burned in bonfires or scalded while cooking. However, there are a few simple things you can do to stay safe and injury-free.

Dr. Marc Jeschke, medical director of the RTBC at Sunnybrook, says that common sense can prevent many of the injuries they see each summer.

“In the summer, you’re more relaxed, maybe some alcohol is involved. This is when burn injuries can happen,” says Dr. Jeschke. Here are some of the most common causes of burn injuries RTBC staff see, and how to prevent them:

BBQs and fire pits

When barbecuing, Dr. Jeschke says, stick to the rules: use fireproof gear, don’t put gasoline or igniter fluid on the grill and don’t wear loose, flowing clothing while cooking.

“With loose clothing, you turn around quickly or get too close, and the fire ignites the clothes. You then have a major injury for no reason whatsoever,” says Dr. Jeschke.

He recommends waiting until after you’ve finished cooking to consume alcohol. The same principle applies to tabletop fireplaces, which have been growing in popularity as a backyard patio feature.

“These can be dangerous because they’re at the exact same height as small children and pets. Keep loose clothing away from these too, and don’t throw any accelerants on them,” he says.

Ethanol-fueled fire pots

Ethanol-fueled fire pots are often more decorative in nature, set on tabletops or in small bowls or pots, but don’t let that fool you: they are dangerous because they use highly flammable fuels, like butane and ethanol. In fact, Health Canada issued a consumer warning in 2019 and asked manufacturers to stop selling these products.

“Explosions can happen when you try to re-light the fire, because there can still be fumes or low flames that can ignite during the refuelling process,” says Anne Hayward, a social worker at the RTBC.

If you have an ethanol-fueled fire pot at home, Dr. Jeschke recommends getting rid of it.

“We’ve seen way too many people injured while refueling ethanol fire pots. It can happen to anyone. They are dangerous, and they can be deadly,” he says.

The post Tips for preventing burn injuries this summer appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Whether you’re staying in the city, heading to a cottage or taking your chances with the weather and going camping, there are a few simple things you can do to stay safe and injury-free.

Dr. Marc Jeschke, medical director of Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre (RTBC), says that common sense can prevent many of the injuries his centre sees each summer.

“In the summer, you’re more relaxed, maybe some alcohol is involved. This is when burn injuries can happen,” says Dr. Jeschke. Here are some of the most common causes of burn injuries RTBC staff see, and how to prevent them:

BBQs

When barbecuing, Dr. Jeschke says, stick to the rules: use fireproof gear, don’t put gasoline or igniter fluid on the grill and don’t wear loose, flowing clothing while cooking.

“With loose clothing, you turn around quickly or get too close, and the fire ignites the clothes. You then have a major injury for no reason whatsoever,” says Dr. Jeschke.

He recommends waiting until after you’ve finished cooking to consume alcohol. The same principle applies to tabletop fireplaces, which have been growing in popularity as a backyard patio feature.

“These can be dangerous because they’re at the exact same height as small children and pets. Keep loose clothing away from these too, and don’t throw any accelerants on them,” he says.

Camping

When camping, there can be a lack of familiarity with the tools you’re using. For example, while you use your stove at home every day, you don’t use your camp stove every day. The same goes for cooking over an open fire or refilling lamps with kerosene or gasoline.

“Do not pour gasoline or another igniter fluid onto a fire that’s already burning, whether it’s a bonfire or a camping lamp. The fire can come right back up into the container you’re holding, which will then explode,” he says.

Always have a container of water nearby or a garden hose on standby before starting the fire.

Fireworks

“Fireworks can be dangerous because if a large number of fireworks blow up, you get explosive burns,” says Dr. Jeschke.

Read safety instructions for fireworks before using them, and don’t let children be around them unattended. Don’t use fireworks inappropriately, like letting them explode in your hands or holding them while igniting them.

If you do suffer a burn:

If it’s a significant burn, call 911. While waiting for help to arrive, don’t put butter, vinegar, oil or lemons on the burn.

“The best initial treatment for all burns is cool running water. Don’t soak the injured area, just let the water run over it,” says Dr. Jeschke.

The post How to fireproof your summertime plans appeared first on Your Health Matters.