Every student, faculty and staff member should educate themselves on proper bleeding control tools and techniques.
According to Stop the Bleed Georgia, severe bleeding can kill “within minutes,” possibly before emergency services can respond. If everyday people have the knowledge and awareness of methods used to stop severe bleeding, they could potentially save lives.
Kennesaw State’s Office of Emergency Management offers classes related to bleeding control at least once a semester on each campus, and they are free of charge to students, faculty and staff. Once completing the class, students are provided a certificate to show they know the basics of bleeding control.
Rapid blood loss can be caused by a variety of events, including home or work-related injuries and motor vehicle collisions. However, in light of the recent active shooter events and bombings that have taken place this year, the OEM has made hemorrhage control tools, such as tourniquets and wound packs, available to Campus Police. In the near future, bleeding control kits will also be included in every ground and first floor AED box in buildings on campus in case of an emergency, according to OEM staff.
When giving aid to a person with a bleeding injury, protect yourself first. Ensure that you and your patient are out of the danger zone, such as roadways and active shooter zones. Because blood carries disease, wearing gloves is vital to protect yourself from blood-borne pathogens.
When you encounter someone with severe bleeding — blood is either spurting out or will not stop coming out of the wound — you must apply immediate and direct pressure to the wound. As you do this, call either 911 or campus police, or direct someone to do so.
Bleeding from wounds to the arms and legs can be stopped or controlled by direct pressure or application of a tourniquet. According to BleedingControl.org, arm and leg wounds are the most frequent cause of preventable death from injury. Use two hands if possible, and press down on the wound as firmly as you can. If you have access to a tourniquet, tighten it until the bleeding stops flowing or spurting from the wound.
Bleeding from torso junctional wounds — armpits, groin, etc. — can be stopped or abated by packing the wound. This technique requires the use of either a hemostatic dressing or regular gauze. Pack the wound until it is full, and continue to apply pressure.
According to the Journal for Emergency Medical Services, “Approximately 5 million people die every year around the world from accidental and non-accidental trauma, making trauma the leading cause of death in people under the age of 45.”
Attending a class, such as the one by put on by OEM, or making the effort to be aware of bleeding control methods could significantly reduce the number of avoidable deaths.
Students, faculty and staff should take every opportunity to equip themselves with the knowledge and understanding of bleeding control methods. A bystander that has the ability to control bleeding could mean the difference between life and death for an injured person.
