San Francisco Sergeant Harrell’s swift, skillful response helped stabilize 49ers player Ricky Pearsall, illustrating the life-saving impact of STOP THE BLEED® training

EMS1: The Overrun Podcast and Blog | November 6, 2024

What happened: On August 31, San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall was shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco. San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Joel Harrell, who stationed was nearby, heard the gunfire and immediately responded. Without knowing Pearsall’s identity as a football player, Sergeant Harrell applied lifesaving first aid using STOP THE BLEED® skills, stabilizing Pearsall and preventing what could have been a fatal outcome. Thanks to Harrell’s actions, Pearsall recovered and has since returned to playing for the 49ers.

Highlights:

• Importance of basic trauma response skills: Sergeant Harrell’s quick application of direct pressure to critical injuries showcased the lifesaving value of STOP THE BLEED® training.

• Community preparedness for emergencies: This incident highlights how anyone, trained or not, can save lives by knowing essential bleeding control and response techniques.

• Positive outcomes from immediate intervention: Pearsall’s injuries were severe, but due to timely intervention, he avoided catastrophic harm – a powerful example of how prompt action can defy the odds.

Sergeant Harrell’s intervention shows the life-saving potential when police officers or civilians are prepared to respond to emergencies. This case reinforces the need for more accessible training on emergency skills, from STOP THE BLEED® to CPR, as everyday bystanders can make a difference in traumatic situations. Promoting these skills broadly within the community could improve survival rates and help prevent tragedies.

Colorado Springs Army veteran stops the bleed and saves life of another veteran in near-deadly accident

KRDO News | October 30, 2024

On Oct. 27, 2024, a minivan vs. motorcycle accident played out in front of the driver's eyes at the intersection of N. Nevada and Pulpit Peak View.

Witnesses say the motorcyclist was thrown from their bike.

One of those witnesses was an Army veteran who credits his military training for his actions. Scott Schober pulled over, ripped the shirt off his back, and used an ice scraper to make a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding on the victim's left leg.

"Like, you could see traffic everywhere, stop, and just be dumbfounded at how they're witnessing such an act.  So I couldn't help myself," Schober said.

Schober reunited with the victim's daughter, Noelle Clay today at the scene to show her the shirt he used to help save her dad's life.

"Once I got to that part where the bleeding was stopping,  he audibly was just like, Ouch, that hurts," Schober said, recounting the scene to Noelle. "It's like, that's the best part, man. That means you're here because you're alive."

Mark Clay, the victim of the accident, is now recovering from severe injuries in the hospital.

Palestinians in Tulkarem learn how to STOP THE BLEED® and respond to medical emergencies

Doctors Without Borders | November 1, 2024

On a sunny morning in Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, West Bank, women sit in a circle as they chat over Arabic coffee, beside a table holding gauze, tourniquet devices, and charts explaining blood flow in the human body. 

Most of the women have little to no medical training, but they have come to learn how to care for wounds, apply tourniquets, and provide basic first aid in a STOP THE BLEED® training organized by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). This training will allow them to care for family members and friends until they can reach a medical facility.

“During raids, it's extremely difficult for ambulances to reach the scene. That's why everyone in the camp needs to have some knowledge of first aid—so that we ourselves can help the injured person,” Saeda Ahmad, STOP THE BLEED® participant

**The Coalition offers the Essentials of STOP THE BLEED® course in both Hebrew and Arabic with the goal to save as many lives as possible around the world.**

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The Coalition is a community of individuals and organizations who are passionate about the STOP THE BLEED® campaign. The Coalition’s goal is to support the growth and impact of the campaign by providing access to information and services to the growing STOP THE BLEED® community as well as financial support to the STOP THE BLEED® Project.

STOP THE BLEED® is a national campaign to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. It is a public/private partnership led by the Department of Defense and many other stakeholders, including the Stop the Bleed Coalition.