The successful implementation of Stop the Bleed® in Guatemala

Authors

  • Juan P. Cóbar, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2497-1904
  • Miranda Matzer, BS
  • Isabella Santamarina, MD
  • Amelia Levi, MD
  • Sabrina Asturias, MD
  • Carlos R. Cordon, MD
  • Lenworth Jacobs, MD
  • Amir Ebadinejad, MD
  • Jane J. Keating, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.0483

Keywords:

Stop the Bleed®, implementation, hemorrhage control, public health, global surgery

Abstract

Objective: This project aimed to successfully implement the Stop the Bleed® (STB) program in Guatemala by targeting key providers in various communities across the country.

Setting: The course was conducted in rural community centers, fire stations, tertiary care centers, and medical school facilities.

Participants: We included agricultural occupational health workers, firefighters, medical providers, and medical students throughout the course.

Results: We successfully trained 247 people in Guatemala in STB and certified 13 instructors and four associate instructors. Through pre- and post-course surveying, we determined that the course improved the participants’ comfort level in managing bleeding emergencies.

Conclusions: Creating partnerships with key providers at different community levels leads to the successful implementation of public health initiatives. Further research should be geared at determining the course’s dissemination by new instructors.

Author Biographies

Juan P. Cóbar, MD

Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut

Miranda Matzer, BS

School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Isabella Santamarina, MD

Department of Surgery, San Juan de Dios General Hospital, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Amelia Levi, MD

Department of Surgery, MedStar Health- Georgetown/Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

Sabrina Asturias, MD

Department of Surgery, Roosevelt Hospital, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Carlos R. Cordon, MD

School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lenworth Jacobs, MD

Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut

Amir Ebadinejad, MD

Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut

Jane J. Keating, MD

Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut

References

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Published

09/01/2024

How to Cite

Cóbar, J. P., M. Matzer, I. Santamarina, A. Levi, S. Asturias, C. R. Cordon, L. Jacobs, A. Ebadinejad, and J. J. Keating. “The Successful Implementation of Stop the Bleed® in Guatemala”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 19, no. 3, Sept. 2024, pp. 217-23, doi:10.5055/ajdm.0483.

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2024): Summer

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Articles

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