Mary Washington Healthcare Kicks Off First Public Rock the Rescue – Stop the Bleed Training Event

Fredericksburg, VA (August 1, 2022) – Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) kicked off its first Rock the Rescue at Rick’s on the River in King George on Wednesday, July 20. The event brought the public and local first responders together to save lives. Over 120 community members learned how to save a life through STOP THE BLEED (STB) training. The STB portion of the evening was coordinated by the MWHC Trauma Services Team in partnership with Rappahannock EMS Services (REMS). Ashley Thacker, owner/operator of Rick’s on the River, made the evening possible by graciously donating her venue and other resources to make the event possible.

STB attendees learned that quick actions before EMS arrive can mean the difference between life and death. Corey Wright, MD, Medical Director of Trauma Services at Mary Washington Hospital (MWH) said, “In the last three to four years, since we began STB training in the community, we’ve seen more patients arrive to the hospital with tourniquets and bleeding complications have decreased.” He added, “Stop the Bleed is not only a course you take, it is a skill you learn.”

In addition to the training provided for the public, the annual EMS Night Out also took place at Rick’s on the River. Over 70 local EMS providers from King George, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties as well as the City of Fredericksburg, attended an MWHC continuing education event presented by PHI AirCare 2 and King George Fire and Rescue. By observing a water rescue of a simulated jet ski accident, the first responders witnessed a patient transport from the boat to an ambulance to the helicopter. Fire and rescue personnel are required to maintain ongoing education to maintain and continue their licenses and credentials.

MWHC has sponsored EMS Night Out for the last eleven years. Given the success of the event, Christina Rauch, MWHC EMS Coordinator, said, “We look forward to MWHC doing an annual Rock the Rescue every year with other community partners throughout the region.”

Click here to watch some of the education, learning, and fun that took place.

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About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through more than 50 facilities and services including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, please visit mwhc.com.