By Alana Mauger

When accidents happen, it’s often the actions we take beforehand that helps save lives. And even though National Preparedness Month is coming to a close, there’s still plenty of time to learn first aid or brush up on your skills.

The American Red Cross, in coordination with STOP THE BLEED® Coalition and other national partners, is offering a new First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) course to prepare learners to respond to bleeding emergencies.

According to STOP THE BLEED®, approximately 40% of trauma-related deaths worldwide are due to bleeding or its consequences, with hemorrhage being the most common cause of preventable death in a trauma.  A person can die from severe blood loss in less than five minutes, making the ability to recognize and act on a bleeding emergency paramount.

While anyone can enroll, FAST is the first national STOP THE BLEED® course specifically designed for high school students. Thanks to a to grant support from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, the course and digital materials will be offered at no charge to high school students under the age of 19. For others, a 90-minutes FAST Online course is available for $30.

The FAST curriculum is designed to prepare learners to identify and respond to bleeding emergencies; to communicate with others on the scene and with the emergency dispatcher; and to care for a person with life-threatening bleeding, such as applying pressure and using a tourniquet.

For high school students, the program is offered in two formats: A 135-minute instructor-led course that consists of instruction and skills- and scenario-based learning, and a 90-minute online program that can be completed as homework plus 45 minutes in the classroom for skills- and scenario-based learning.

Visit redcross.org/take-a-class to see all of our Red Cross Training Services classes and programs.