TEMPLE, Texas — May is "Stop the Bleed Month", and community leaders and healthcare providers are putting an emphasis on awareness and training to prepare people to step in in the case of a medical emergency.
"Stop the Bleed" is a course developed by the American College of Surgeons designed to give people the tools to keep an injured person alive until help can arrive.
To prepare for Stop the Bleed Month, 6 News spoke with Baylor Scott & White Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator Lana Julian about how citizens can get involved and what they can learn.
Julian told 6 News that bleeding is the No. 1 cause of preventable death for trauma patients, and depending on the severity of the injury, a person can bleed out in 3-5 minutes. Julian said Stop the Bleed training can prepare people to help in cases such as car accidents, farming accidents and more.
Julian said treating someone with a traumatic injury starts with a few simple steps:
- Make sure it's safe to intervene. Don't create two victims.
- Call 9-1-1. Some people will not be able to medically intervene. Calling 9-1-1 is an important step.
- Check for injuries on the person, and find the location they are bleeding from.
Once the injury has been located, there are a few next steps to help control the bleeding:
- Sometimes, to find injuries, the person's clothing will have to be removed. Don't be modest. Those clothes can then be used to apply pressure to the wound. Things like T-shirts and towels can also be used.
- If this does not work or the wound is deep, you may have to pack the wound with other materials. Julian said not to worry if the material is dirty, as the person will likely receive antibiotics at the hospital.
- Finally, apply a tourniquet if needed.
A tourniquet is a device that tightens around a body part to stop bleeding. Julian said to apply a tourniquet 2-3 inches above the injury and tighten it as much as possible. Julian said to try and remember the time you placed the tourniquet, as there is a risk of losing the limb.
For those looking to get involved or learn more, Baylor Scott & White offers Stop the Bleed training that people can schedule for any group throughout the year, with a special emphasis on May. They also hold events, such as a blood drive at the end of May, where residents can come to learn more. To sign up for a training event, visit this link.
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