If you are a firearms owner, it’s important to prioritize your safety and that of your family by enrolling in a Stop the Bleed® course. I recently signed up for one after a recent mass shooting in my area, recognizing its potential to save lives.
There is an online course here, but in person training would be ideal. This comprehensive course teaches you the basics of stopping bleeding through direct pressure, wound packing, or the proper use of a tourniquet. It is often offered for free and lasts at most 1 to 2 hours. You can search for courses close to you here.
I took the course at a hospital that is designated as a trauma center in my area. The lecture part of the course was useful, and we also got to practice wound packing and tourniquet application. I used to think that tourniquets were risky to use and could lead to limb loss, but recent studies have shown that tourniquets are quite effective if used correctly.
Our instructor recommended the use of a quality tourniquet, specifically either the North American Rescue Combat Application Tourniquet (NAR CAT), or the SOF® Tourniquet.
Regardless if you are a firearms owner or not, enrolling in a Stop the Bleed® course is a proactive step towards readiness for an unexpected emergency situation. Investing less than two hours to gain potentially life saving skills is a valuable use of your time.