File photo of the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge. A new 'STOP THE BLEED' safety kit has been installed at the facility. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

STOP THE BLEED

New safety kits installed at ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge

Mar 25, 2024 | 1:50 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A ‘STOP THE BLEED’ kit is now set up at the ENMAX Centre.

The City of Lethbridge says the kit includes hemostatic dressings, which are 10 times more effective than regular gauze at controlling bleeding. The kit also comes with a tourniquet that can be used for injuries to arms and legs.

The ‘STOP THE BLEED’ campaign is recognized across Canada and the United States.

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) chief Greg Adair adds that it “stems from the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012.”

“We’ve also recently seen a critical incident with a hockey player in Europe, losing his life to a major bleed. This kit gives us another line of defense if we are ever faced with these types of situations.”

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LFES has partnered with staff at the ENMAX Centre, as well as contractors and the Lethbridge Hurricanes to provide training on how to use the kit to save someone from a severe bleed.

“When managing a major bleed, time is critical,” says Dr. Kirstin Derdall, department head of anesthesia at Chinook Regional Hospital.

“This is why it’s so important to have these tools readily available and to have people trained on how to use them. Arenas can be particularly dangerous which is why this is a great place to start with these kits,” Derdall adds.

The ENMAX Centre kit is located at ice level, next to the automated external defibrillator (AED).

Assistant general manager and assistant coach for the Lethbridge Hurricanes Matt Anholt touched on how important this kit could be with the risks that come with the sport of hockey.

“The reality of hockey is that we play at high speeds and on sharp blades,” he says.

“We’ve seen tragedies like this happen before and we want to be ready if something like that were to happen here. We are extremely grateful to have this new kit and to have received the training from our local emergency services crew so we can best protect our team.”

Officials with LFES are looking to expand the project to other facilities in Lethbridge and partner with organizations interested in adding a kit to sites across the city.

Certified ‘STOP THE BLEED’ trainers at LFES are available to help educate the public on how the kits are used. Chief Adair adds that LFES recently delivered training at the ENMAX Centre for hands only CPR and the use of the on-site AED, in addition to training on the new kit.

“Cardiac arrest is another very real risk in a recreation facility like the ENMAX Centre and knowing the simple steps of hands only CPR and how to use an AED could absolutely save a life,” he says.

More details about the public awareness campaign is at the ‘STOP THE BLEED’ website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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