May is National Stop the Bleed Month, and Stop the Bleed Day is observed every year in mid-May to promote bleeding-control training across the country. Having the knowledge to control serious bleeding is a true lifesaving skill that any citizen can easily learn. Traumatic injuries occur every day to families like yours and mine, and a person with severe bleeding can lose their life in as little as 5 minutes, long before help arrives.
During this month, take the time to expand your knowledge and skills that could save a life. It is now possible to learn not only in person but also virtually. Check out the website www.stopthebleed.org.
And please share this information with your friends, family and co-workers so we can expand the knowledge base of spontaneous responders. This benefits everyone as a community when we are all better trained. A good place to start is making sure your first aid kit can actually control severe bleeding: trauma dressings, gauze for packing wounds, and a tourniquet.
How to stop bleeding
Also, our online first aid videos cover the basics of bleeding control, which are the same skills I used as a firefighter over my entire career. And before you treat anyone, remember the 5 steps to take before responding to any emergency. Remember, this training is free, so please share.
