Tips to save lives: Officials stress knowing basic survival skills after Vegas tragedy
People in the crowd in Las Vegas during Sunday's mass shooting made split second decisions about how to help the injured. In light of the tragic event, law enforcement officers are stressing the importance of knowing basic tips that can save lives.
Posted — UpdatedWake County's Assistant EMS Chief Jeff Hammerstein says the help a victim receives before first responders arrive is key.
"It is possible for someone to frankly bleed to death before we can get there and do anything about it"
"So it’s a matter of grabbing bulky cloth of any kind, if you've got a shirt you can put on and hold, something like this towel is perfect for this task, and its holding firm tight pressure and not turning it loose," he said.
Good options to absorb blood are cotton clothing or feminine hygiene products.
"What we're going for is turning it a time or two until we see the bleeding stop, that's when we know its controlled," Hammerstein said.
One thing a professional tourniquet has that's important, is a garrot, or a stick to tighten it. Civilians can make this with something as ordinary as a pen.
"As horrific as these situations may be, and as emotional as they may be when you're focused on a task that you need to complete to help somebody with that, that's helping you work through this issue too," he said.
People in Las Vegas applied these techniques, instinctively with no training, to strangers, and in many cases saved lives.
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