American Red Cross Blood Drive
Joliet Junior College held safety trainings for employees this week in order to prepare bystanders during an emergency and on what to do in an active shooter situation. They were among several employee professional development sessions this week ahead of the start of the fall semester.
Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and a call to action that a number of schools in Chicago have implemented. It is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.
“JJC has always been proactive regarding disaster preparedness and safety,” said Charlotte Garrabrant, EMS professor and coordinator of the training. “Offering this session to all employees during personal and professional development week compliments the active shooter training by providing the opportunity to provide hands-on bleeding control education.”
Attendees learned how to apply a tourniquet for severe extremity bleeding and aggressive wound-packing techniques for torso wounds.
Garrabrant was joined by JJC nursing student Evan Alling in conducting the workshop.
“Learning the basics of bleeding control can help anyone in any situation, whether it be at home or in public,” Alling said. “I think this is going to be as important as CPR in the future.”
The following day, the JJC Police Department conducted its annual Active Shooter Drill, one of a number of drills and trainings the department carries out each year. The department has been conducting the shooter drill for more than 10 years, said JJC Police Chief Pete Comanda.
“It is unfortunate that we need to anticipate these types of events but should one occur, faculty members and supervisors will be looked to as the people who know what to do,” he said.
The program included a presentation as well as a realistic live action scenario which used blank guns that simulated actual gunfire. Attendees had the option of being active participants or just observers.
For media inquiries contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.
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