EMS Post 53 was at the Darien YMCA Saturday to train younger students on how to potential save a life as part of National Stop the Bleed Day.

According to the “Stop the Bleed” initiative, born out of the events of the Sandy Hook massacre, trauma is the leading cause of death between people 1-44 years of age. They say up to 20 of those deaths could be prevented with proper bleeding control.

Post 53 includes about 20 high school students each year. Starting in eighth grade, students are trained and then hand-picked to be EMT volunteers.

Students led a PowerPoint presentation on different types of bleeding, how to control it and what resources to use. Then, attendees got a hands-on experience by practicing with dummies, gauze and tourniquets.

Coordinators say the event continues to further prove that high school students can make a difference on a national level.