On January 20, a Bleeding Control Basic Course for the visually impaired and blind, developed with the help of the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Medicine, was held at the West Islip Fire Department.

A group of 26 people with visual impairments including complete blindness received training through this first-of-its-kind modified course.

Volunteers and attendees participate in the training.

The Bleeding Control Basic Course teaches those who have little or no medical training to stop uncontrolled bleeding when emergencies occur. This course was modified for those with less or no vision and encouraged them to utilize their sense of feel.

Modifications to the course included practice utilizing task trainers, wearable bleeding trainers to allow participants to feel the extremity and locate bleeding, and warmed fluids to represent blood.

Linda Clark, who is nearly 100% blind, said in the middle of the class, “I really feel like this is doable.”

The Trauma Center’s Dr. James Vosswinkel, Medical Director, and Colby Rowe, Education and Prehospital Outreach Coordinator, helped conduct the training. The course was held in conjunction with an Active Shooter for the Visually Impaired and Blind presentation from the Suffolk County Police Department.

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/facultystaff/trauma-center-conducts-first-visually-impaired-bleeding-control-training/