Fire department demos 'Stop the Bleed' training at Garland senior commission meeting

Jerry Clegg, a representative of the Garland Fire Department, taught a Stop the Bleed class to the Garland Senior Advisory Commission, saying bleeding is the leading preventable cause of death after injury and that laypeople can make the difference between life and death. The presentation traced modern civilian bleeding control training to the Columbine and Las Vegas mass shootings and stressed that immediate action saves lives.

Clegg walked attendees through the three escalating interventions — direct pressure, packing and tourniquets — and invited participants to practice. “The number 1 cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding,” he said, urging volunteers to apply body weight with a bandana or shirt if commercial supplies are not available. He also demonstrated tourniquet placement and instructed, “Once you put a tourniquet on, never remove it,” advising to mark the application time for hospital staff. Attendees asked practical questions (for example, about using menstrual pads for packing and treating children); Clegg answered and emphasized caller safety and telling 911 the number of people and location when relevant.

The class included practice rounds, a sign‑in sheet for StopTheBleed.org certification reporting, and offers of additional handouts and sign‑up sheets. The demonstration concluded with audience thanks to firefighters for recent field responses.