By Paul Wilcoxen
The Southern Illinoisan
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. 鈥� May is Stop the Bleed Month. Stop the Bleed is a program that teaches people that with simple tools and the proper training, a bystander can give someone a better chance of survival before medical help arrives.
That was the focus Monday afternoon at Southern Illinois Airport, where Southern Illinois Healthcare鈥檚 Office of Disaster Preparedness and the Regional Hospital Coordinating Center hosted a hands-on Stop the Bleed demonstration.
The event brought together trauma instructors and first responders for practical training ahead of National Stop the Bleed Day.
鈥淭his is an instance where moments matter,鈥� Arien Herrman, SIH鈥檚 System Manager for Regional Healthcare Resiliency, said.
That鈥檚 especially true in rural areas like Southern Illinois, where accidents can happen far from help, and the nearest person may be the only one able to step in.
Herrman, a paramedic with 24 years of experience, led the demonstration using realistic scenarios, complete with simulated wounds and fake blood. The demonstration showed how to assess injuries, apply pressure, use tourniquets and pack wounds to control bleeding.
鈥淵ou can bleed out in three to five minutes,鈥� Herrman said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 often faster than an ambulance can get to you.鈥�
The training emphasized preparation, and Herrman said bleeding control kits should be as standard as fire extinguishers or AEDs.
鈥淚 keep them in my kitchen, car and even in my bike saddlebag,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they don鈥檛 help if the tourniquet鈥檚 still in the wrapper. You鈥檝e got to be ready to use it.鈥�
He also addressed misconceptions about tourniquet use. Once considered a last resort, tourniquets are now widely accepted in emergency care.
鈥淲hen I was a Boy Scout , we were told they might cause amputation,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, they鈥檙e my first choice for life-threatening bleeding.鈥�
Dr. Andrew Kastello , a trauma and critical care surgeon at SIH in Carbondale and Herrin , said that quick action from bystanders can save lives.
鈥淚f patients spend even just a few minutes bleeding, it can mean the difference between life and death,鈥� Kastello said.
While Southern Illinois has strong emergency crews, rural distance still creates delays. Kastello said he鈥檚 treated patients who lived because a tourniquet was applied early, and others who didn鈥檛 survive because nothing was done.
鈥淭he use of a tourniquet isn鈥檛 without risk, but it can absolutely save a life,鈥� he said.
Attendees also learned to give clear instructions in emergencies, mark patients who鈥檝e received a tourniquet, and improvise with whatever materials are available.
鈥淵ou can pack a wound with gauze, a towel, even a torn bedsheet,鈥� Herrman said. 鈥淭he goal is to stop the bleeding, no matter what you have.鈥�
SIH offers Stop the Bleed training to schools, churches and community groups. A grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health helps supply bleeding control kits to eligible organizations.
For more information or to schedule training, email rhcc@sih.net or visit .
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