For Immediate Release:

June 11, 2019

Contact:  Julie Happy

Community Affairs Manager

Spokane Valley Fire

509.892.4155

SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE TEACHES FREE LIFE SAVING TECHNIQUE IN SCHOOLS

ALMOST 300 ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY, AND STAFF TRAINED

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Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) began a “Stop the Bleed” nationally acclaimed lifesaving training program last year designed to train area citizens, schools, and businesses in basic bleeding control techniques.  Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one preventable death from trauma in the United States.  This program was inspired by the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting tragedy, December 14, 2012 and developed by the American College of Surgeons in the hopes of preventing further unnecessary deaths in the U.S.

West Valley School District took advantage of this program offered by the SVFD and hosted approximately 13 classes where almost 300 administrators, faculty, and staff attended training.  This training can make a difference immediately when the threat of life is in jeopardy from uncontrolled bleeding.

“All of us should be able to prevent this type of trauma,” said RW Pegau, Spokane Valley Fire Paramedic.  “Banks, libraries, community centers, retirement communities, apartments, students – all could benefit from this type of training that is easy to learn but has direct lifesaving correlation.”

 SVFD hopes other Spokane Valley school districts will take advantage of this program.  Although students were not included in the West Valley School Districts training, the SVFD hopes that in the future student training will be included as well.   With the school year coming to a close, Spokane Valley area schools now have the opportunity to pre-schedule training classes for the upcoming 2019/20 school year.  The length of a training session can be 30, 60, or 90 minutes depending on the time available and the depth of learning requested.  Training is free and mirrors the same program level of service that the SVFD uses for training Firefighters on the Rescue Task Force (RTF).

For individuals looking to attend a “Stop the Bleed” training, the SVFD hosts a free class every 3^rd Saturday, at the Spokane Valley Fire Department Training Center, 2411 N. Pioneer Lane.

For more information on “Stop the Bleed”, go to Spokanevalleyfire.com

You can also call the Spokane Valley Fire Department directly at 928-1700.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Bleeding Control Basic 1.0 Course.

About SVFD
Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the City of Spokane Valley, City of Liberty Lake, City of Millwood and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Spokane County with a combined population of 125,000 across 75 square miles. SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 17,280 emergency calls in 2017. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, one of only a handful in Washington State.

For more information about Spokane Valley Fire Department, visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

Follow us @spokanevalleyfire on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

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