More than 290 Russellville School District students are certified in bleeding control techniques due to a fall 2019 initiative led by two members of the Arkansas Tech University faculty.
Dr. Cheryl Monfee, professor of nursing, and Dr. Carey Laffoon, associate professor of nursing, worked with community partners and ATU alumni to help the Russellville School District meet the provisions of Act 245 of the 92nd Arkansas General Assembly.
Act 245 requires Arkansas students in grades 9-12 to receive training in bleeding control. “Stop the Bleed” is a national program launched by the White House in 2015 in recognition of the fact that bleeding is the No. 1 cause of death from injury.
Monfee and Laffoon began their project by completing an instructor certification course taught by Zach Mabry, director of surgery at Johnson County Regional Medical Center and a graduate of the ATU nursing program. Another ATU nursing graduate, Annie Schanick, collaborated with the ATU faculty members to seek administrative approval and schedule “Stop the Bleed” classes for students. Schanick is the nursing coordinator for the Russellville School District.
Fifteen ATU Bachelor of Science in Nursing students completing their leadership and management clinical rotation participated in training and joined the effort as associate instructors.
Yet another member of the ATU community, Arkansas Tech Department of Nursing alumnus Tim Tanner, helped carry the training forward to the Russellville High School student body. Tanner serves as stroke and community outreach coordinator at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
RHS program participants were tested on their knowledge of techniques to stop bleeding before and after the course. Their average score improved from 62 percent before training to 92 percent after training.
Monfee and Laffoon plan to continue their community service and educational outreach program to aid school districts in their pursuit of Act 245 compliance.
Call (479) 968-0383 for more information.
