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FDNY launches ‘Control the Bleed’ training in gun violence hotspot

Brownsville residents gathered to learn how to stop life-threatening bleeding with hands-on skills to help shooting victims before EMS arrives

NEW YORK — Residents in one of New York City’s most violence-stricken neighborhoods received hands-on training Tuesday on how to stop life-threatening bleeding in shooting victims, as part of a new FDNY initiative.

The “Control the Bleed” program was held at the New York City Housing Authority Van Dyke Community Center in Brooklyn, just a day after an NYPD officer was shot in the face nearby and survived, the New York Post reported.

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“Control the Bleed is a training program that is meant to offer regular New Yorkers the skills to help them help their neighbors in an emergency,” FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said. “Rather than just standing around when you see someone in need, by teaching life-saving skills, we’re ensuring that everyday citizens can respond with confidence when faced with life-threatening bleeding.”

More than 40 people, many from the anti-gun violence group Brownsville In Violence Out, took turns practicing how to apply pressure to wounds to control severe bleeding.

The training was made possible after the FDNY secured funding from the FDNY Foundation and the U.S. Public Health Service. The training comes as the NYPD’s 73rd Precinct, covering Brownsville and Ocean Hill, reports a more than 40% drop in both shooting victims and incidents compared with this time last year, police data show.

FDNY officials said other community organizations can request the “Control the Bleed” training, similar to how groups sign up for the thousands of CPR classes the department offers annually, and they hope to see comparable participation.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.