Free training for employees, students, community members continues today, Friday

POST FALLS — A wreck on the side of the road could mean someone is in serious danger.

Before ambulances arrive, a good Samaritan with the proper training might just save that person's life.

"We have the five northern counties. I travel, so I’m on the road all the time, so there’s always a possibility I could run across somebody that’s in an accident," said Panhandle Health District facilities manager Pete Millsap. "How do you stop a trauma bleed? That’s just something that could happen, or even on myself."

Millsap participated in a Stop the Bleed course Wednesday morning during Safety Fest of the Great Northwest, a free three-day training event for safety lessons and certifications across a wide range of industries.

In the class, Kootenai Health charge nurse Julie Lowe taught her students how to apply tourniquets in the case of severe bleeding. Her pupils placed tourniquets on their arms and practiced twisting the windlass rods to tighten the hold.

“Your adrenaline is going to be rushing,” Lowe said. “You can bleed out in a matter of minutes.”

“You really have to crank it,” one student said as he worked the handle.

Lowe emphasized how important this step is in saving a life.

“By not doing anything, they’re going to die,” she said.

The 12th annual Safety Fest is being held throughout the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center in Post Falls, where about 625 people are signed up for more than 80 courses ranging from active shooter training, mental health first aid and fall protection awareness to defensive driving and respiratory protection.

Millsap has attended about 10 of these annual safety seminars to keep up on industry standards and keep his awareness sharp.

"There’s ladder safety,” he said. “According to statistics, that’s like the No. 1 cause of accidents. So I re-look at that and see if there’s anything else I’m forgetting, because I’m up a ladder almost every day."

More than 50 instructors from different professions are volunteering to help others maintain accident-free workplaces and contribute to a safety-minded community.

Kootenai Electric Cooperative safety director Thomas Maddalone and line foreman Keith Gednalske shared important safety tips in their class on basic electrical training.

“It brings a heightened awareness for electrical safety, especially for contractors, because they do work around our equipment,” Maddalone said. “Just to help keep them safe, should an incident occur, they’ll know the right thing to do and prevent a serious injury."

“And the general public,” Gednalske added. “I’m one of the first responders on a lot of these accidents, and so is Thomas. (It’s important) just to know what to do even with a storm and the power lines. This helps with heightened awareness for what goes on."

Safety Fest combines the efforts of large and small businesses, industry, nonprofits and municipal agencies to promote safety and health at work, at home and in the community. Events are held in Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Lewiston.

"We’re a training institution, so we love to offer training to the community, especially if it’s free," said Colleen Hoffman, a Safety Fest committee member and organizer who works as the coordinator for customized training at the Workforce Training Center. "Bringing all these entities together is an awesome opportunity to get people trained in safety. Some organizations can’t afford to pay for the training, so this helps a ton of people."

Class space is still available for those who want to participate. Safety Fest continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday.

The Workforce Training Center is at 525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls.

Info: www.nic.edu/safetyfest or 208-769-3333