As synagogues around the US take increased precautionary safety measures, a Chicago-based Jewish organization is offering courses that can save lives in the event of an attack. “Stop the Bleed” is a 60-minute course designed to teach skills a bystander can use to save lives in the event of traumatic injuries, such as those caused by knife or gunshot wounds.
These classes are sponsored by CCL (Concerned Citizens League) Shul Members, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting synagogue and communal safety. As part of their ongoing efforts to enhance readiness in the event of an attack, CCL Shul Members recognized a need to create a pool of individuals trained to provide lifesaving first aid in the event of traumatic injury or catastrophic sudden illness.
“We pray that the safety of our families and community members will never be compromised,” said Dovid. “But if ever our communities come under attack, ‘Stop the Bleed’ can save lives.”
While the city of Chicago has pledged to address its shortage of ambulances, the average EMS response time remains over seven minutes, according to reports. Severe bleeding can cause death in two to five minutes, however. In Chicago, this response time gap has come into stark focus after a woman bled to death last October while waiting for an ambulance, which took eight minutes to arrive despite five desperate 911 calls by family members, according to a CBS 2 report.
“Applying a tourniquet is a bystander intervention that can save lives during the time it takes for professional emergency medical services to arrive on the scene,” said Capt. Chaplain Dovid Grossman, U.S.A.F. Auxiliary, and Chief STB Instructor will be giving the “Stop the Bleed” course. “And as responsible members of our communities, it’s important we have the training to save lives. That is why we’re promoting this essential course.”
Grossman will share lessons learned in over 30 years in emergency services. He has volunteered with Orange County Search and Rescue as well as Hatzolah Chicago and is currently serving with the Civil Air Patrol.
The “Stop the Bleed” course comes in conjunction with National Stop the Bleed Day, May 23rd. A one-day call to action supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the American College of Surgeons, National Stop the Bleed Day encourages people to get training to help prevent trauma-related deaths, 40% of which are due to bleeding or its consequences, according to NationalStopTheBleedDay.org.
CCL Shul Members is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to empower the Jewish community to protect and defend their homes, shuls, and communities through training, education, information sharing, security awareness, preparedness & support.
CCL Shul Members is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to empower the Jewish community to protect and defend their homes, shuls, and communities through training, education, information sharing, security awareness, preparedness & support.