With traumatic events occurring more and more recently, Jacob Fannin of Shady Grove Tactical is trying to teach local people how to be of help if they ever find themselves in such a situation.

Shady Grove Tactical will be putting on a free “Stop The Bleed” training class Saturday, November 18 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Troy Bank and Trust Lowes Branch on U.S. Highway 231 South.

“We want to empower the citizens with the knowledge and the tools to respond before fire trucks and police are able to get there,” Fannin said. “Our goal is to light a fire that this is something the layperson can do; you don’t have to be a first responder.”

Fannin said the class will focus on teaching bystanders to help save lives in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.

“No matter how quickly emergency responders arrive, bystanders will always be first on the scene,” Fannin said. “A person can die from blood loss within five minutes, so it’s important to quickly stop the blood loss.”

Some of the topics at the class will include basic airway management, tourniquet application and wound packing.

Fannin said an increased knowledge of these simple things like applying a tourniquet could help to greatly reduce casualties during a traumatic event.

“At one of the recent incidents, some bystanders tried to apply tourniquets but did so incorrectly,” Fannin said. “It was able to slow the bleeding down, but they ultimately failed to stop the bleeding.”

Fannin said his goal is for everyone to be carrying kits to provide trauma care in the case of an emergency, and for everyone to know how to use it.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Registration can be made by calling 334-268-0296 or via the Shady Grove Tactical, LLC Facebook page.

The class is free thanks to the help of sponsors Troy Bank and Trust, Stop Heart Attack and Shady Grove Tactical.