CNY homeschooled teen takes courses to save lives with Upstate trauma's team
EAST SYRACUSE N.Y. (WSYR-TV — While many teenagers spend their free time watching movies or hanging out with friends, 17-year-old Holden Swift is preparing for a future of saving lives.
The homeschooled teen has dreams of becoming an EMT, so he thought taking Upstate Trauma's course was the perfect opportunity to get his feet wet.
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CNY homeschooled teen takes courses to save lives with Upstate trauma's team
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'I thought going and physically doing it would be helpful for the learning process,' said the 17-year-old participant.
Stop the Bleed, Upstate's free 90-minute training, teaches everyday people how to control severe bleeding in life-threatening situations. The nationwide program was launched in response to the Sandy Hook massacre, aiming to empower bystanders to take action before first responders arrive.
Participants learned three critical techniques: applying pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet to control or, better, stop the bleeding until help arrives.
The training, however, isn't just for those interested in emergency medicine like Swift; it's to help with unexpected situations like car accidents, workplace injuries and farming accidents. All everyday situations where knowing how to stop severe bleeding could save a life.
'The key takeaway is that these are everyday emergencies that happen right. Car accidents, workplace injuries from machinery, farming accidents, and certain things you might need to know to stop life-threatening bleeding,' said Anthony Scailse, the course coordinator.
Upstate offers the Stop the Bleed course for free. Once completed, participants are certified and can even instruct others. For more information on upcoming classes, click here to sign up.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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