MARSHALL – The City of Marshall and the Marshall Fire Department are now better equipped to respond to serious bleeding emergencies, thanks to Oaklawn Medical Group.
On Sunday, Oaklawn distributed 28 bleed control kits to the city and its fire department for use in service vehicles, including the public works department, electrical department, water department, wastewater department and dial-a- ride.
The effort was funded by Oaklawn and through a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Michigan Statewide Systems of Care program. The grant provides funding for educational, performance improvement and community injury prevention initiatives related to trauma, stroke and heart attack.
“Municipal workers are frequently in situations where serious bleeding emergencies can occur, such as the use of chain saws, heavy equipment and other industrial situations,” Oaklawn Emergency Management Director Sarah Hughes said in a statement to press. “Money from this grant provides bleeding control bags with tourniquets, emergency dressing supplies, scissors, bleeding control gauze and laminated instructions for approximately 28 kits for the City of Marshall to use in situations where there is a serious bleeding emergency.
“Severe bleeding emergencies are actually the leading cause of death after a traumatic injury,” continued Hughes. “And we can do something about it if you get there quickly and have the necessary equipment. You can use a t-shirt or sock or get creative, but when you have the real supplies it’s so much better. Hopefully they will never have to use the kits, but having them will be beneficial in an emergency.”
Marshall Fire Chief Martin Erskine indicated that time is of the essence when deploying bleeding control kits in an emergency.
“If workers are in the field, they can use the kits and stop the bleeding before emergency teams arrive,” Erskine said. “Waiting after calling 911 can take at least five to six minutes for them to arrive. These kits are very beneficial.”
In addition to the kits, Oaklawn offers initial and annual “Stop The Bleed” training for Marshall employees. Oaklawn has also provided several bleeding control kits to the Marshall Police Department and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office in recent years.
Oaklawn routinely offers “Stop The Bleed” severe bleeding control classes for community members and organizations. For more information, call Hughes at (269) 789-7144.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared in the Battle Creek Enquirer: Oaklawn Provides Bleeding Control Kits to City of Marshall
