Kip’s Comments - May 18, 2026

Acceptable Picture to Near Tears

Early this evening I spent some time watching an area where grosbeaks, orioles, woodpeckers, and other birds were flitting around. After fifty or so mosquito bites I finally saw this male rose-breasted grosbeak pause briefly where I could sort-of photograph him. The picture is not great, but was acceptable enough that I wrapped up my efforts and headed home.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Image 1097700

Once at home I received a request to call a person I have not spoken to in years, but we are friends on social media. With cautious curiosity I reached out, not knowing why. Our phone call nearly moved me to tears.

This person thanked me for teaching a stop-the-bleed class they had attended years ago. Today the person came upon a very serious accident and was able to render aid by using a belt to create a tourniquet. They remembered how I taught them that the constriction needed to be tight, so the person and a bystander fashioned a tool that allowed them to tighten the tourniquet enough to slow the severe bleeding. Their aid was maintained until an officer arrived on scene and applied a commercial tourniquet and EMS assumed responsibility.

Over the years I have taught many stop-the-bleed classes, often in conjunction with Run, Hide, Fight trainings. I always hoped nobody ever had to apply what we taught, but knew that it was possible. Tonight it became clear that sometimes our efforts may not have benefits, or sometimes the benefits come later. And sometimes the benefits of the education come just in time. In this case what we discussed was used and may have saved a life.

I am so happy to know what we discussed and practiced was put to use when needed. I pray the victim has a successful recovery. And, I am grateful for the unexpected call.

Thank you for doing what you did!

If you have not learned “Stop-the-Bleed” or “Run, Hide, Fight” or “CPR,” I encourage you to do so.