An individual with severe injuries can die from bleeding out in as little as five (5) minutes without intervention to stop the bleeding. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, each year, more than 60,000 people in the United States die of hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhagic shock occurs when there is significant blood loss that leads to inadequate oxygen delivery at the cellular level. If the hemorrhage continues without attention, the victim will die. However, many of these deaths could be prevented with immediate action. That’s why there is now a nationwide campaign to bring education, equipment, and supplies into schools and other public gathering places to help Stop the Bleed®.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has been working with elected state officials to introduce the Prevent Blood Loss with Emergency Equipment Devices Act (Prevent BLEEDing Act). The Prevent BLEEDing Act creates a grant program within the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide anti-blood-loss supplies for use in a medical emergency and implement training on bleeding control techniques. This legislation would mandate the installation of bleeding control kits in schools. States like Arkansas, Missouri, Massachusetts, and North Carolina have already introduced bills requiring public schools to administer Stop the Bleed® training for students and staff, setting the stage for future legislation to provide designated funding for bleeding control kits.
What’s included in a Bleeding Control Kit?
- Tourniquets
Tourniquets are the most critical piece of life-saving equipment in a bleeding control kit. A tourniquet is a device that is used to apply pressure to a limb or extremity in order to stop the flow of blood. - Chest Seals
Chest seals are a type of bandage used for deep puncture wounds to the chest, neck, and abdomen. They play a critical role in triage first aid for these types of injuries by helping prevent air in the chest. Air in the chest can impact a victim’s ability to breathe. - Compression Bandages
Compression bandages allow a first responder to keep sustained pressure on a wound while freeing hands to address other emergency issues. - Bleeding Control Bandages
Deep wounds need to be packed with gauze to control the bleeding. This can significantly reduce the time that direct pressure must be applied to arterial wounds. - Survival Blankets
Severe trauma can lead to shock and hypothermia. Shock happens when there isn’t enough blood circulation through the body to keep organs and tissue functioning normally. Hypothermia decreases a person’s ability to form clots. Keeping warm delays the onset of shock and maintains the body’s ability to clot. A bleeding control kit contains a survival blanket. - Nitrile (latex-free) Gloves
In situations that require a bleeding control kit, there will likely be other bodily fluids, too. Nitrile exam gloves offer the wearer and the patient some protection from bloodborne illnesses or infections. - Scissors
In a traumatic, high-stress event, getting to a wound in order to treat it might mean removing clothing. It is often safer and quicker to cut away the clothing than to try to move the patient around. - Permanent Marker
A marker can be used to write on various surfaces, including paper, tape, tourniquet flaps, compression bandages, and skin to record the time aid was rendered. This can be used to provide first responders with the critical information they need to render the best care. - Just-in-Time Instruction Card
Every minute counts in an emergency. The instructions help readers prioritize which injuries to treat first, and how.
Rescue-One Offers Life-Saving Bleeding Control Kits and Training for Schools
Rescue One offers Bleeding Control Kits for Schools containing the necessary items to control serious bleeding and prevent further blood loss for a victim suffering a traumatic injury. Buy bleeding control kits and supplies here or call Rescue One for additional information.
Make bleeding control part of your school safety plan.
Learn to recognize life-threatening bleeding emergencies and how to respond effectively. Every Minute Counts. Take Responsibility. Save a Life! Get trained in Advanced Bleeding Control with Rescue One Training for Life.
