Stop the Bleed

Part of Parkview's responsibility as a verified trauma center is to help plan, educate and train the community regarding mass casualty events. Although we sincerely hope that no one will ever have to experience one of these unspeakable events, the current reality is that anyone may be called upon to be a first responder, especially in a school or community setting. The Stop the Bleed® campaign, developed by the American College of Surgeons, has been shared in many different community settings. 

The entire trauma team has taken the Stop the Bleed campaign and education out into the community. In 2018, a media event was held in coordination with the Allen County Department of Health to raise public awareness about life-threatening bleeding in the setting of a mass casualty event in the community. The program is unique in that the public receives training, not medical professionals, as they will be the first responders for themselves, family members and peers. Free education has been provided to local high schools, religious establishments and health fairs. Parkview Trauma Centers have also provided tourniquets to help local organizations begin their process of preparedness.

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Life-saving lessons

Stop the Bleed was started by the American College of Surgeons, through the Hartford Consensus, after several mass casualty events where multiple lives could have been saved through bleeding control techniques. The program "continues to empower the general public to make a difference in a life-threatening emergency by teaching them the basic techniques of bleeding control."

By taking a bleeding control course, you can learn how to stop major bleeding in three simple ways:

• Direct pressure
• Wound packing
• Tourniquet application

The following instruction from the American College of Surgeons and The Committee on Trauma, is a great place to start. 

Direct pressure

If you don’t have a trauma first aid kit:

• Apply direct pressure to the wound
• Cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply pressure by pushing directly on it with both hands

If you have a trauma first aid kit:

• For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg and a tourniquet is available: Apply the tourniquet.
• For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg and a tourniquet is not available or for bleeding from the neck, shoulder or groin: Pack (stuff) the wound with a bleeding control (also called a hemostatic) gauze, plain gauze, or a clean cloth and then apply pressure with both hands.
• Apply continuous pressure with both hands directly on top of the bleeding wound.
• Push down as hard as you can.
• Hold pressure to stop bleeding.
• Continue pressure until relieved by medical responders.

Parkview Safety Store offers Stop the Bleed kits for $40. The kits can be purchased for personal use and meet the legal requirements of House Act 1063, which requires schools have a kit on school grounds. If you have questions or would like more information, call 260-266-1289.

Wound packing

For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg and a tourniquet is not available or for life-threatening bleeding from the neck, shoulder or groin:

• Pack (stuff) the wound with bleeding control gauze (also called hemostatic gauze), plain gauze, or a clean cloth and then apply pressure with both hands.

Stop the Bleed training classes

Parkview provides Stop the Bleed training for free. We have provided training at multiple elementary and high schools, as well as churches, health fairs and administrative leadership events. Anyone can request a Stop the Bleed class.

To schedule a class, contact: 

 

You are also welcome to attend one of our scheduled Stop the Bleed classes at Parkview. Registration is required.

Register to Attend

Learn more at bleedingcontrol.org.