Working together to save lives

In a heartening show of community collaboration, Revd Lisa Taylor joined forces with Newbridge School and the Rotary Clubs of Blackwood, Bargoed, and Pontllanfraith to teach essential life-saving skills — all in the lead-up to this year’s Stop the Bleed Day today (30 April).

The hands-on session, the first of its kind in the area, equipped Year 7 students with crucial bleeding control techniques — skills that can be the difference between life and death in an emergency.

“This session was incredibly insightful, and our students were fully engaged in learning these life-saving skills,” said Louise Protheroe, PSE Coordinator for Health & Social Care & Art at Newbridge School.

Revd Lisa, team vicar in the Islwyn Ministry Area and lead trainer for the Stop the Bleed initiative, led the session with Rotarian Trevor Morgan. Lisa, a former nursing professional, was joined by five Rotarian facilitators trained to a citzenAID programme, who demonstrated how to stop severe bleeding using the Stop the Bleed kits. Over 220 students and teachers participated, learning how early intervention in controlling blood loss is critical to survival following traumatic injuries.

This collaboration marks the first in a series of planned school sessions, with more to come in the local area. In addition to training, the Rotary Clubs are providing Stop the Bleed training packs to schools that complete the program. These packs will help ensure that life-saving knowledge is passed on throughout the school community for years to come.

For more information, contact: Rev Trevor Morgan, trevor.morgan@tmea.uk.com