Quitman health science students got an opportunity to learn how to deal with bleeding situations from UT Health East Texas paramedics in their high school classroom on Oct. 31.

Vicky LaMay, paramedic and outreach coordinator at UT Health East Texas EMS, along with trauma services representatives from UT Health Quitman presented a 45-minute course on how to stop bleeding safely.

“The more people we train to stop the bleeding… it increases the person’s chance of survival by keeping that blood in their system,” LaMay said.

She added that these lessons are especially needed in light of recent mass shootings.

LaMay advised students that applying pressure will keep blood inside the body.

“The more people who know these life-saving skills, the more people will survive,” LaMay said.

Visiting paramedics went over how to stop bleeding by using a tourniquet, packing a wound and applying pressure until professionals can be there.

Brittany Emerson, QHS health science teacher, said UT Health has worked with her classes on several trainings, such as CPR.

“It’s a really good, long-running relationship because they’re willing to teach,” Emerson said.

Educating the students on how to stop bleeding teaches them to help in a traumatic situation rather than simply “freezing up,” she added.

“You never know when you’re going to have a bleeding incident,” Emerson said.

LaMay emphasized the need to have a tourniquet readily accessible in several classrooms in the school.

UT Health’s regional advisory committee, who provides preventative education for the community, sponsors the classes.

UT Health can bring the classes to anyone in the community. UT Health EMS representatives have already taught the class at Quitman Volunteer Fire Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. To set up a class on how to stop bleeding, contact LaMay at vglamay@uthet.com.