Did you know trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 46? Just like CPR and AED training, learning to save a life from bleeding or trauma is also essential. That’s why they declared May as Stop the Bleed Month! The Stop The Bleed campaign was created in 1922 to build national resilience by better preparing the public to save lives by raising awareness of basic actions to stop life-threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies.
Stop The Bleed Legislation
As we see more states adopt AED legislation, we’re also seeing a rise in bleeding control requirements in public places, such as schools. In 2019, at least 12 states introduced legislation to educate and provide teachers with the tools to respond and save a life during a bleeding emergency. Here are some of the highlights happening at the state level.
- Texas and Indiana have passed laws to have Stop The Bleed kits and training in schools.
- Georgia has included the cost to install Stop The Bleed kits in schools as part of the state’s budget.
- The state of Illinois Terrorism Taskforce is installing Stop The Bleed kits in schools.
- Arkansas passed a bill requiring high school students to participate in Stop The Bleed training as a requirement for graduation.
- The North Carolina legislature approved funding for a pilot program to train public school teachers to Stop The Bleed in Transylvania County.
Whether Bleeding Control Kits are required by law or not, we should raise awareness and educate the community on the importance of preparedness for the unexpected.
Stop the Bleed ABCs of Bleeding Control
Stop the Bleed attendees will learn the most effective ways to assist and support victims in the event of a trauma-related emergency. Here is a quick overview of what you will learn and what to do in case of a bleeding emergency.
- Alert 911– Know your location and follow instructions provided by 911 operator
- Bleeding – Find the source of bleeding. Look for continuous bleeding, large volume bleeding, and pooling of blood. Remember, there may be multiple places the victim is bleeding and make sure to check under clothing.
- Compress –
- Pressure – Apply direct pressure to the wound. Focus on the location of the bleeding and use just enough gauze or cloth to cover the injury. If pressure stops the bleeding, keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.
- Packing – For large wounds, superficial pressure is not effective. If bleeding is from a deep wound, pack gauze tightly into the wound until it stops the bleeding. Hold pressure until help arrives.
- Tourniquet – Apply 2-3 inches above the wound. Tighten tourniquet until bleeding stops.
Written by Blaire Czarniecki
Customer Service Director
Blaire graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology- Child and Family Studies. She has been in the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) industry for over eight years and is the Director of Customer Service. Blaire is also an American Red Cross certified CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor, highly trained by each manufacturer on their specific AEDs, and knowledgeable regarding ALL State AED regulations and legislation.“Every day I come to work, I know I am playing a part in saving someone’s life. I’m passionate about these devices and am always looking for new and innovative ways to spread awareness and knowledge about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). I look forward to the day when everywhere I go, I will see an AED—when SCA will no longer take any lives.”
Last updated May 5th, 2023