AdventHealth Littleton brings lifesaving training to Chatfield State Park

When an emergency happens at Chatfield State Park, help may be minutes away. For park rangers, knowing what to do in those first moments can be the difference between life and death.

That is why AdventHealth Littleton recently brought its trauma and injury prevention teams to the park to host a free Stop the Bleed class.

The training followed two separate July boating accidents at Chatfield Reservoir. In both cases, park rangers used tourniquets to help control life-threatening bleeding before patients could reach the hospital.

“People die before they get to the hospital because of bleeding,” said Crea Fusco, MD, AdventHealth Littleton trauma surgeon. “The fact these rangers knew how to put a tourniquet on was truly lifesaving for these patients.”

Stop the Bleed is a national campaign that teaches people how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take immediate action, including applying direct pressure, packing a wound and using a tourniquet.

Dr. Fusco led the class, which included hands-on practice with bleeding simulations and manikins, giving rangers an opportunity to work with the equipment they carry in the field.

The AdventHealth Littleton trauma team also awarded the park rangers who responded to both boating accidents the Trauma Hero Award for their quick actions. They each received their own Stop the Bleed kits that include a tourniquet, gauze, gloves and other items.

Officer Karsen Krier was one of the park rangers who applied a tourniquet during a recent boating accident. He says that only reinforced the value of the class.

“These are perishable skills,” Krier said. “It’s important to take these refresher courses and make sure we’re up to date on everything.”

For Dr. Fusco, bringing the training to the rangers was a natural extension of the hospital’s role in the community.

“It’s heartwarming to know people are always looking for more knowledge,” she said. “And we are always willing to go out to the community as much as possible to help.”

AdventHealth Littleton plans to make the training an annual event and hopes to reach seasonal park employees before the spring and summer recreation seasons.

For rangers, that ongoing preparation can help build confidence before the next call for help.

“You can always learn new things, and it’s always good to practice for the worst,” Krier said.