Stop the Bleed class helps a bystander save Fred King's life
If you’ve ever wondered how you would react as a bystander in a life-threatening emergency, you may want to consider checking out the free “Stop the Bleed” classes offered by Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC). Designed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for those who don’t work in healthcare, classes are an official program of the U.S. Department of Defense and provide training on techniques to control life-threatening bleeding until first responders arrive. The training and the Stop the Bleed kits, which contain bleeding-control essentials and are available for a fee, absolutely save lives. Just ask Fred King, a veteran from Idaho Falls, who was in a horrific motorcycle crash in which he lost his leg and almost his life.
“It was Thursday, July 17, 2024, and I was heading home on Main Street,” said then-75-year-old Fred. “I was in the left lane. As any motorcyclist will tell you, if there’s traffic and you’re in the left lane, you check any side streets. I gave it a look and didn’t see anyone. Then all of a sudden, a car appeared on the side street and turned the wrong way into my lane. The only thing I could do was lock the brakes on the bike. I played astronaut, and the landing was a little rough. When I came to, I was facedown in the street. My first concern was for my bike, which was wadded up like tin foil. Then I saw my boot with bones sticking out of it. I rolled over and saw that my leg was gone. I said a few choice words, passed out, and woke up the following Tuesday in the ICU at EIRMC.”
Learn more about the ACS Stop the Bleed program.
Learning to Stop the Bleed is learning how to save lives
Two guardian angels intervened on Fred’s behalf that day. The second was Jake Allred, who arrived later on the scene. Nearly a decade earlier, Jake had witnessed a serious incident in which people had been injured. Instead of calling 911, he’d been frozen in fear. He took proactive steps so he would never feel that way again, including enrolling in Stop the Bleed classes at EIRMC. He was so impressed with the training that he committed to taking the class annually and keeps his vehicle stocked with a tourniquet and emergency kit, just in case.
Although Jake could see that Fred was surrounded by passersby who looked as if they had the situation under control, he grabbed his first aid kit and went to see if he could help. Fred’s other guardian angel had used his belt as a tourniquet, but Jake knew that the real one he carried would be better. The two men secured the tourniquet and removed the belt, preventing Fred from bleeding out. Jake says he didn’t have to stop and think about what to do; his Stop the Bleed training kicked in automatically.
Fred is extremely grateful to his guardian angels. “If it weren’t for those two gentlemen, I wouldn’t have made it to the hospital,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to meet them and thank them for saving my life.”
Getting his quality of life back
When you talk to Fred, you get the idea that he’s a big motorcycle guy. He’s been riding since the mid-1960s. Every conversation eventually leads back to his beloved bikes or his next ride — Sturgis in August 2026. But following the crash, it wasn’t always apparent that he would ever ride again.
“You see those people on TV in their golden years traveling and dancing,” Fred said. “ My golden years weren’t going to look like that. I spent a week in the ICU and then eight weeks on the rehab floor of the hospital. The people at the hospital, the doctors, the rehab people, they were all wonderful. They all worked with me. They taught me how to use a wheelchair and got me started walking again (with, eventually, a prosthetic leg). But I had to wait six months for my wound to heal first. I’m an outside person, and this puts a damper on that. I had to accept that there are some things I can’t do, so I have to make special arrangements.”
And that’s exactly what he did. As soon as possible, he bought a motorcycle, and then another. At first, he was only able to start them up and listen to the throaty rumble.
“I bought a bike over the computer and had it delivered,” Fred said. “Just seeing it parked where my old bike used to be made the depression go away. It brought me back to life. I practiced swinging my leg over and sitting on it. About five months later, I rode it for the first time. I had to get the hang of using it with my prosthetic leg. I joked with my friends that it’s like having an extra kickstand. So now that’s my call sign. I’m looking forward to riding in Sturgis this year — there’s a group of folks who ride with artificial arms and legs. As soon as I start the bike up, I get a big smile on my face and I say, ‘yeah baby — let’s go’!”
Fred admits he couldn’t have done any of it without divine intervention. “I’ve got lots of good people who’ve helped me along the way and the blessings of God — He’s still got things for me to do.”