Clark shares ‘secure, preserve, fight’ approach

Dr. Kevin Clark presented at the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Educational Symposium in Orlando, Fla. on June 20. His presentation focused on responding to active shooter events in health care.

Many schools and businesses use the run, hide, and fight response to an active shooter. But, in his presentation, Dr. Clark shared how running and hiding are not appropriate in health care settings because providers have an ethical obligation to care for the patients they serve and not abandon them. Instead, he suggested the secure, preserve, fight, and stop the bleed approach.

During an active shooter event, health care providers should secure their location, preserve life, and fight if necessary. Once the event is over or when safe to do so, providers should mitigate loss of life and attend to victims who are actively bleeding by packing wounds and applying direct pressure.

Dr. Clark is an associate program director with the School of Health Professions for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Nebert and Vicki LeJeune and grandson of Bud and Jackie Royer, all of DeQuincy.

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