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Writer's pictureGAIL GOULD

Stop the Bleed: Essential Skills to Save Lives During National Stop the Bleed Month


Blog Post - Stop the Bleed techniques for handling emergency situations effectively during National Stop the Bleed Month

May is National Stop the Bleed Month. Did you know that uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death from trauma? Each year around 60,000 people in the U.S. lose their lives due to uncontrolled blood loss.


How does this happen? Well, uncontrolled bleeding significantly reduces the blood available for the heart to pump, affecting vital organ function. Losing just 20% of your blood supply can lead to hypovolemic shock, and a person can bleed to death in a mere 3-5 minutes.


To combat this, the Stop the Bleed initiative was launched by a consortium including the American College of Surgeons, the Committee on Trauma, the National Security Council, Homeland Security, the FBI, among others. This was particularly in response to the increasing frequency of active shooter incidents. Their recommendation is clear: everyone should learn how to manage life-threatening bleeding.


So, where could these skills come in handy? Pretty much anywhere:

  • At home

  • Schools

  • During motor vehicle accidents

  • Weather-related injuries

  • In the workplace

  • Incidents involving gun violence


The critical first steps are recognizing life-threatening bleeding and calling 911. Then, ensure you find the bleeding source. Remember, your safety comes first; if you're injured, you can't help anyone else. Only assist others when it is safe for you to do so.


What exactly counts as life-threatening bleeding? Look for:

  • Blood spurting from a wound

  • Blood that won’t stop flowing

  • Blood pooling on the ground (imagine it's more than half a can of soda)

  • Clothes soaked in blood

  • Saturated bandages

  • Loss of a limb

  • Bleeding in someone who is confused or unconscious


The recommended methods to stop the bleeding include applying pressure, packing the wound, or using a tourniquet. All these techniques focus on one key principle: compressing a blood vessel to stop the bleed.


Just this past year, I've had numerous requests to facilitate Stop the Bleed training sessions for various organizations, including a local TV station that tragically had a reporter fatally shot while covering a homicide. It’s crucial that we all understand how to respond to these emergencies.


This month, empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to save lives. Learn more free tips by following me on Instagram: @cprandsafetylady. Click below to email me about hosting a Stop the Bleed training session with you and your family, friends or colleagues.


Stay safe and healthy!





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Choose from a variety of essential training programs designed to equip you and your team with the necessary skills to respond confidently in emergencies. From basic CPR techniques to advanced first aid, our courses are tailored to suit beginners and experienced learners alike.

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Duration: 2-2.5 Hours

Learn to act quickly and confidently in emergencies with our CPR & AED Training. We will cover critical skills needed to respond when someone becomes unresponsive or stops breathing, how to effectively use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and how to manage choking incidents.

CPR, AED, and First Aid

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This extended session covers not only CPR and AED use but also essential first aid techniques. Participants learn to manage a variety of urgent health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, seizures, severe allergies, and more, along with handling blood borne pathogens. 

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CRITICAL BLEEDING CONTROL TRAINING

Duration: 45-60 minutes

Stop the Bleed training is vital in a world where accidents or violent incidents can occur. This course empowers you with the knowledge to recognize life-threatening bleeding and effectively manage it using compression techniques, wound packing, and tourniquet application. 

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