Unfortunately, in today's world we may be faced with emergencies or even disasters that call on us to act outside our daily clinical routines. Involvement may be voluntary or may be suddenly thrust upon us. Our ability and willingness to respond define who we are as individuals and as a profession.
In a recent DC article, I discussed voluntary training for doctors of chiropractic to form a screening team for accidental or intentional radiation exposure.1 We are ideally suited to fill that emergency response niche because our basic education allows us to understand and respect radiation, but also be able to screen and reassure concerned citizens.
Another public service program is available to us, as well as the general public. "Stop the Bleed" is a training program originally formulated in response to the increase in active shooters and terrorism, but it is also applicable to industrial, agricultural or sporting accidents. It has been determined that in most cases of injury with hemorrhage, the victims who survived did so because of the action of bystanders.
Trauma is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States for individuals between the ages of 1-45. Roughly 20 percent of U.S. trauma deaths might be preventable if appropriate and timely medical care is delivered following injury. This equates to nearly 30,000 preventable deaths annually.2
Like CPR, immediate intervention dramatically increases the viability of those injured. Using techniques refined by the military, ordinary citizens can respond with appropriate interventions and save lives.
Recently the Arkansas Chiropractic Physicians Association offered the Stop the Bleed course to doctors in attendance at its spring conference. They reviewed possible scenarios, assessment and actions to arrest life-threatening bleeding using a variety of techniques. Little Rock's Metro Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) provided the equipment for all doctors to participate in hands-on training.
Participants honed their skills, confidence and willingness to respond to a potential incident. Regardless of their personal practice style or philosophy, all participating doctors have enhanced their value in their communities and are a positive reflection on the profession of chiropractic.
Stop the Bleed is a national program. An online search of your specific state will yield a list of available training sites near you, or you can arrange for a trainer to provide a program for your professional or community organization.
First aid has evolved. Even in emergency medicine, what was acceptable in the mid-1990s has significantly changed, such that tourniquet application and wound packing are now taught to ordinary citizens. Schools receive training and government grants toward hemorrhage response kits. As health care providers, we should as least be cognizant of these changes, and at best, be qualified to respond to a need. Plus, accreditation standards for chiropractic educational programs require the ability to address public health issues and to communicate interprofessionally.3
As with radiation screening, Stop the Bleed is another public health program that needs and welcomes participants, especially those with existing health care skills. Conversations with state public health departments or local first responders can often reveal other programs that can forge bonds between doctors of chiropractic and the public, as well as establish interprofessional relationships. In working toward the common goal of public health and safety, we are teammates for the community.
Author's Note: If you are interested in becoming an instructor in Stop The Bleed for your community, please contact me at karen@konarskiclinic.com with "STB instructor" as the subject line.
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
