Mass shooting in South Africa and assassination in Japan, TyTek brings awareness around these tragedies

Over the past week we have seen some tragic events happen globally and whilst we know that in the U.S. gun control laws need to drastically change, we want to highlight the importance of awareness worldwide. We have seen over 300 mass shootings so far in the U.S. this year alone and at TyTek we know it’s important to mention these events worldwide and raise awareness of the importance of understanding medical care for whenever these events may occur. 

A mass shooting took place in South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning at Mdlalose's Tavern in Orlando, Soweto. The motive is not yet known, but the gunmen entered the establishment and fired assault rifles and pistols at the patrons, killing 14 people and severely injuring 9 others. The area where the venue resides seemed generally quiet and the residents were shocked by the event. This kind of news in the U.S. is unfortunately very common and generally well covered, but it’s important to bring awareness to what’s happening globally. 

Another shooting which has completely shook the nation of Japan occurred on Friday morning, where a gunman assassinated the country’s former Prime Minister whilst he was giving a speech. Shinzo Abe was shot twice and tragically passed away in hospital, and the suspect has been stated to have been politically motivated in his actions. 

“Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the attack, saying: "It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated. "This attack was "an act of brutality that happened during the elections - the very foundation of our democracy - and is absolutely unforgivable," Mr Kishida said, speaking before Abe's death was confirmed.” - BBC

This tragedy has prompted world leaders to condemn the incident, describing it as hugely despicable.

Gun violence is extremely rare in Japan, where handguns are banned and political crimes are almost unheard of. Even in these circumstances, you never know when a crime such as this can happen, whether it’s in the U.S. or Japan. It’s vital to bring awareness to such events globally and we are here to play a part in providing medical knowledge to those who may need it. 

Whether you’re a beginner or expert, medical preparedness is something everybody can gain with the right knowledge. If you’re ever in an emergency situation such as a shooting, there are a few things you can do to be as prepared as possible:

• Attend first aid training courses near you - visit stopthebleed.org
• If you’re ever attending a show or entertainment in a large venue, be sure to check where emergency exits and first aid kits are. 
• Act fast! Although nobody knows how they will act when it comes to such horrific events, it’s important to try to keep your cool as much as possible and act fast if a victim is bleeding out. A lot can happen in 5 minutes and it can be the difference between life and death.

When it comes to learning how to stop severe bleeding, we have got you covered. In our education hub, we have provided many tutorials on how to act in times of emergency and how to stop a severe bleed which you can access here.

“35% of pre-hospital fatalities are due to bleeding from a traumatic injury. That’s why we have created medical supplies that are user-friendly and ready for anything.”  - Chris Tyler, TyTek Group President.

TyTek Medical products were developed for the battlefield. Almost every day, however, we see and hear about civilians who suffered traumatic injuries following an accident. As a result, we have prioritized the treatment of point-of-injury bleeding in public spaces. Our supplies can empower anybody to administer emergency first aid, and we believe that bleeding control stations should be available wherever possible. This goes worldwide, as you never know what is going to happen.

Please reach out to us if you are looking for support on anything medical and follow us on our socials to stay up to date!

Sources: BBC and Sowetan Live