HCA Florida Healthcare celebrates training 20,000+ Central Floridians to STOP THE BLEED®

HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in Central Florida have trained more than 20,000 people of all ages how to respond in a life-threatening bleeding emergency since 2016. The announcement comes as HCA Florida Healthcare recognizes STOP THE BLEED® Month in May.

HCA Florida Healthcare trauma and emergency teams are committed to ensuring Floridians are bettered equipped to manage life-threatening injuries by educating the community on injury prevention and emergency medical response. Four of our hospitals have trained high school students, school nurses, teachers, Girl Scouts, community leaders, senior citizens and community members of all ages in seven Central Florida counties.

“We teach STOP THE BLEED® to empower as many people as possible in our community to act quickly during bleeding emergencies,” said Dr. Dustin Huynh, trauma medical director at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital. “By being proactive in providing essential training and resources, we can ensure the communities we serve are better equipped to control life-threatening bleeding until professional help arrives. That means more lives saved and improved outcomes for victims of a traumatic injury involving extensive blood loss.”

According to the American College of Surgeons, the No. 1 cause of preventable death after injury is blood loss, and 40 percent of trauma-related deaths worldwide are due to bleeding. Learning basic skills to stabilize a bleeding victim, including applying direct pressure, packing wounds and applying a tourniquet, can help save a life.

“STOP THE BLEED® Month is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate HCA Florida Healthcare’s commitment to the care and improvement of human life through action,” Dr. Huynh said. “We want to engage as many people as possible to become trained, advocate and encourage others to be prepared for a bleeding emergency.”

STOP THE BLEED® training in Central Florida is provided by HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital, HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. Classes open to the public are regularly held at the hospitals and community events. In addition, group classes can be scheduled for businesses, schools, churches and civic groups. Classes are free.

For more information on Stop the Bleed classes, visit HCA Florida Healthcare STOP THE BLEED®.