Graduate nurse empowers community with life-saving skills
After losing a friend to gun violence, a graduate student-nurse in Toronto’s Jane and Finch area decided to help teach a unique life-saving course.
Christina Frimpong, 25, has lived in Toronto Community Housing's Yorkwoods community for almost her entire life, “I’ve seen a lot of the things that go on here, the good and the bad.”
Even though she is just starting out in her nursing career, she is already giving back to the community by delivering life-saving training to her neighbours.
During free two-hour trainings, she teaches how and where to apply pressure to prevent blood loss in the event of serious injury.
"Family, friends and neighbours are the first ones on the scene before paramedics get there"
“Whether someone gets injured in the kitchen, has a car accident or gets caught up in gun violence, the techniques we teach can make a huge difference,” Christina says, “Family, friends and neighbours are the first ones on the scene before paramedics get there.”
The Stop the Bleed training sessions are delivered as part of Toronto Community Housing's Violence Reduction Program, an initiative that offers economic development and community and social supports in collaboration with the City of Toronto.
Christina Frimpong wears a Stop the Bleed t-shirt. Participants in the course learn now to improvise with items of clothing when bandages and gauze are not available in an emergency.
Christina Frimpong wears a Stop the Bleed t-shirt. Participants in the course learn now to improvise with items of clothing when bandages and gauze are not available in an emergency.
“They taught us a few techniques that I didn’t expect, such as how to use a tourniquet”
A training device for practicing life-saving techniques can be seen next to tourniquets (small tools used to apply pressure), bandages and a t-shirt.
A training device for practicing life-saving techniques can be seen next to tourniquets (small tools used to apply pressure), bandages and a t-shirt.
Special techniques
Led by nurses and doctors from Sunnybrook Hospital, the training teaches people of all ages how to go beyond the role of bystander in a medical emergency.
Christina says taking the training herself earlier this year was a real eye opener. “I was like ‘wow I actually learned something’ and wanted to become an instructor.”
The course took her back to the day when she lost a friend because of gun violence. “I remember wondering whether I could have done anything differently, even though I was much younger at the time.”
As a graduate nurse, she already knew much about general first aid skills. “But they taught us a few techniques that I didn’t expect, such as how to use a tourniquet,” she said. A tourniquet is a small medical tool used to apply pressure to a part of the body to stop the flow of blood.
Wow factor
Many people who take part in the training have a similar reaction, Christina says, “when you see the changes on their faces while the information is being presented… it is a wow factor.”
After completing the training Christina decided to register as an instructor with Sunnybrook to give back and help provide the training in the community.
“I’ve told all my friends who meet the requirements to become an instructor. And some of my family members have already agreed to come to a session to get certified.”
Getting certified in Stop The Bleed is a great way to help each other out, Christina says, “It is an amazing opportunity to bring awareness to marginalized communities.”
“When you see the changes on their faces while the information is being presented… it is a wow factor.”
Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) are easy to use devices that can be used to help someone suffering a heart attack.
Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) are easy to use devices that can be used to help someone suffering a heart attack.
New ideas
The trainings are also sparking new ideas in the community. While delivering a session in Rexdale, a mother whose son was injured because of gun violence told Christina she wished tourniquets were more readily available.
“Just like how AED’s (automated external defibrillators) are available everywhere, we should have tourniquets available as well,” Christina suggests.
Toronto Community Housing will be organizing more free Stop the Bleed training sessions in collaboration with Sunnybrook Hospital. Register below to join!
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