Photos Provided WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Emergency Department Educator Rich Jenkins, a registered nurse, shows students at Martins Ferry High School how to pack a wound during the “Stop the Bleed” program, aimed at teaching how to administer aid during an emergency.

MARTINS FERRY — Every second counts when someone has been seriously hurt, and area students are learning what to do should they be called on to render aid.

Recent school shootings such as the one in Nashville have underlined the importance of being ready.

WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital has been offering presentations to the schools. Organers recently visited the Martins Ferry City Schools.High school Principal Joe Mamone said about 400 students participated.

“We had our entire school, grades 9-12,” he said. “They had probably a 20-minute presentation on what it is, different things to look at, situations you could encounter. I believe they hit most of the Belmont County schools.”

Mamone said there were hands-on elements.

“They had five or six stations set up. The students actually got to go through. They taught them how to use the tourniquets, where to place them if that ever happened. Taught them how to pack wounds on (dummies). They had different types of wounds. All of our students got to go through, and they each got a certificate for going through it,” he said. “It’s nice for our kids to have, and kind of unfortunate that you have to do those kind of programs and trainings with kids, but with everything that’s going on in the world today and everything that just happened in Nashville … it kind of draws some more focus to it.”

He said the training is applicable for a wide range of situations.

“That’s what we told them: ‘Hopefully this is something you never have to use, but you could be anywhere at any age and at least you have this training and know what to do,” he said. “If you’re out and about and you’re hiking, you may not have gauze to pack a wound, but you can use your T-shirt. They went over that with them.”

Mamone said teachers have had similar training.

“The teachers have actually been through the program,” he said. “It was a refresher for them. All the teachers were in there as well.”

He said the students were enthusiastic.

“It was really nice to see the students engaged and actually working the tourniquets and packing things. It’s something that doesn’t normally fall within the educational realm, but one of those things in today’s world you probably need to know,” he said.

Jeff Gazdik, the EMS coordinator for WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, leads the program. He said so far this school year, they have visited schools including Union Local School District, the St. Clairsville-Richland City Schools District, Bridgeport Exempted Village School District, and the Buckeye Local School District. They also plan to present at the Barnesville Exempted Village School District and Buckeye Trail High School in Guernsey County in May, then St. Mary’s Grade School in Martins Ferry.

“We’ve just been going out to schools that want us to come,” he said. “Teaching them how to use a tourniquet and control bleeding so they know what to do if they ever come into a situation with someone bleeding, they could stop the bleeding.”

Gazdik said the program began about five years ago and there are normally eight to 10 instructors to a visit.

“The kids just know it’s a good thing to learn, and with more and more school shootings occurring, I think the kids are eager to learn it and know how to use it in that event,” he said.

“The kids have been very receptive to it. All the schools have been excellent. The kids are willing to learn and want to do it, and that makes it better for us because we know the kids are learning and understanding something they can use the rest of their life,” he said.

“Most of the time they’ll have to use it outside the school building between hunting, fishing, they’re on ATVs, dirt bikes, auto accidents, so it’s just like CPR. It’s a good thing to know and to know how to use it when it’s needed.”

He said they try to visit each high school every three years so that hopefully every student can learn.

Gazdik said students also learn that items such as tourniquets are inexpensive and easy to carry with them. He said some students have expressed an interest in continuing training.

“A lot of kids have asked us about first aid. A lot have also asked if we could come and teach their Scout group or their church group or youth group, and of course our door’s always open. We’ll come out and train anybody at no cost.”

Union Local School District Superintendent Zac Shutler said the training was welcome there.

“Taking the time to teach students and staff emergency first aid procedures could potentially save a life in school or outside of the school. Being prepared and educated helps reduce panic and uncertainty in a stressful situation. That can make all the difference,” he said.

To arrange a presentation, Gazdik can be reached at 304-243-8380.