By Sarah Roebuck
CHICAGO — Traumatic injuries with uncontrolled bleeding are a leading cause of preventable deaths nationwide, the American College of Surgeons states.
This May, during National Stop the Bleed Month, the American College of Surgeons is urging everyone to learn three simple life-saving steps through their Stop the Bleed training.
Developed with insights from trauma surgeons and emergency medicine experts, the ACS Stop the Bleed program equips people to handle bleeding emergencies, according to an ACS news release. Launched in 2017, it has already trained nearly four million individuals globally and is often dubbed the “CPR of bleeding.” This program aims to spread critical life-saving skills worldwide.
In a concise one-hour course, participants learn three essential steps to control bleeding:
- Apply direct pressure
- Pack the wound with gauze or clothing
- Use a tourniquet on limbs if needed
These methods are vital for preventing severe blood loss and saving lives.
“Injuries that cause severe bleeding can happen anytime and can become life-threatening within a matter of minutes,” said Executive Director & CEO of the ACS Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS. “The ACS Stop the Bleed program empowers everyone, including those with no prior medical knowledge or experience, to learn simple techniques to help control bleeding before professional help arrives.”