New training helps teach public to stop life-threatening bleeding

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An attacker ambushed a team of Republican lawmakers Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice.

In a cellphone video that captured the shooting, you hear gunshot after gunshot.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was among four people injured in Virginia, and several others jumped in to help him.

One turned a belt into a tourniquet.

Wednesday’s shooting is a sobering reminder that everyone is a first responder.

It's what prompted a federal effort called “Stop the bleed,” which is designed to teach anyone to save a life in these types of situations.

Emergency responders in Charlotte are now working to teach people how to save a life in these types of situations.

Training staff at Novant Health have teamed up with several other trauma hospitals locally.

“You don't need to have any medical training to find out where the bleeding is and to do something about it,” said Angela Clarkson, of Novant Health who is one of the coordinators leading the effort in Charlotte.

Since spring, Clarkson, along with a team from trauma hospitals throughout the area, have been training the next batch of certified staff who will then move on to train the public.

“Well, this is a way that you can save a life. That's bottom line,” Clarkson said.

The program was first created after the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three, but injured nearly 300.

Their goal now is to save time and save lives with everyone playing a role.

The goal in Charlotte is to reach more than 20,000 people in next two years.

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