City firefighters, paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians typically reach an emergency scene in a matter of minutes. But when seconds count, that might be too late.

The Knoxville Fire Department is partnering with the University of Tennessee Medical Center and American Medical Response ambulance service to provide “Stop the Bleed” training. It’s part of a national campaign to show ordinary people what they can do in an emergency to save a life.

No matter how quickly professional emergency responders arrive, bystanders are usually the first on the scene. A person with a trauma wound can die from blood loss within five minutes, according to “Stop the Bleed.”

If someone is a bystander at the scene of a car crash – or at a mass-casualty tragedy – the “Stop the Bleed” training will enable that person to know when and how to step in while waiting for First Responders to arrive.

“Those first minutes are critical,” said Fire Chief Stan Sharp, whose department is offering the training for the first time ever. “This training is for everyone, just like we want everyone to know how to perform CPR.

“People who go through ‘Stop the Bleed’ training will learn how to use several techniques – from applying direct pressure on the bleed to applying a tourniquet – to stop blood loss from trauma.”

Three training sessions will be offered. The first, available to City of Knoxville and Knox County employees, will be offered from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, March 9, in the City County Building’s Small Assembly Room.

Two open-to-the-public training sessions will be offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, at Market Square and at West Town Mall.