Bleeding control is an essential skill to have. First responders, medical professionals, and even regular citizens can save lives with bleeding control training. With a little bit of knowledge, anyone can learn how to treat wounds and stop bleeding using pressure bandages or hemostatic agents like QuikClot Combat Gauze. Learn how to stop the bleeding by enrolling in one of our courses today!
What is bleeding control?
Bleeding control courses are an important part of emergency response training. They teach you how to stop bleeding from wounds and can be taught in a classroom or online.
- First responders: In the event of an injury, first responders will need to know how to use tourniquets, gauze, and other materials that can help stop bleeding until more advanced medical care arrives on the scene.
- Civilians: Civilians should also take these courses because they may come across someone who has been injured by accident or attack. Being able to apply pressure bandages correctly could be life-saving for someone who has been injured by gunfire or stabbing (or even just cutting themselves shaving). Additionally, knowing how hemostatic agents work will help civilians treat injuries effectively when there isn't time for professional medical care available yet (like during natural disasters). The cost of these courses is often expensive; however, there are some free online resources available if your budget doesn't allow for paid training sessions at this time."
Why the need for training in bleeding control?
Bleeding is the leading cause of death in trauma.1 It's also a critical skill for people who work in emergency situations, like EMTs and firefighters.2
In addition to learning how to control bleeding by applying pressure bandages, you will also learn about other ways to help prevent blood loss and save lives during emergencies. For example:
How do you perform CPR?
How often should you check a pressure bandage?3
How should I respond when there has been an injury?
When you're faced with an injury, the first thing you should do is call 911. If someone has been hurt and needs help, there's no time to waste. Next, assess the situation: Is there a lot of blood? Is your patient conscious? Does he or she understand what's going on? These are important questions to ask because they can help you determine whether it's safe for you to approach the victim without risking further harm (for example, if the person has suffered head trauma).
- Stop bleeding: The most important thing when treating an open wound is stopping any bleeding by applying direct pressure over it with your hands or other materials such as towels or clothing if necessary until paramedics arrive at the scene.
- Keep calm: Do not panic--this will only make matters worse! Focus instead on helping those around them cope with their emotions so everyone stays calm during this stressful time.
- Get help if needed: If someone cannot stop bleeding on his own after attempting several different methods then seek out professional assistance immediately.
- Apply direct pressure: Use something flat like gauze bandage material which acts like "a plug" inside the hole caused by a penetrating object such as a knife blade while keeping fingers a clear distance away from the edge where blood may seep through the opening created by the wound itself."
How do I perform a pressure bandage?
The first step in controlling bleeding is to apply pressure directly above the wound. This will help prevent further blood loss and allow time for medical treatment.
If you are using a pressure bandage, apply it over clean gauze pads that have been placed on top of the wound itself. If you're using a dressing instead of a bandage, place it directly onto wounds without additional layers underneath (though this may not be possible if there are multiple injuries).
Once you've got your dressing on securely enough so that it won't shift around while still being able to breathe through it without causing irritation or pain for your patient, wrap elastic bandages around both sides of their torso so that they can't move much while keeping everything tight against them at all times!
What do I do if someone has lost a lot of blood?
If someone has lost a lot of blood, they'll likely be in shock and need immediate medical attention.
- Call 911 immediately. Tell them that the patient has lost a lot of blood and is bleeding heavily.
- Apply pressure bandages to the wound as soon as possible, using either an appropriate type of bandage (such as triangular) or your own clothing if you don't have any other options available to you at the time. Apply these bandages as close to where the wound is located as possible; this will help stop bleeding much faster than if you left them farther away from it instead!
- Keep your patient warm; they're going through quite an ordeal right now so make sure they feel safe and comfortable while waiting for help to arrive! Don't give them anything solid like food or drink since this could cause further damage inside their body due to its increased pressure against internal organs during digestion processes which would only worsen matters further down the line after the treatment process begins."
What if my patient has lost a limb?
If your patient has lost a limb, you will want to dress the wound and protect the stump from infection. You can also prevent shock by keeping their body warm and providing them with water or other fluids. It's best not to move them until help arrives, so make sure that they are comfortable before doing anything else. If you have a tourniquet and can apply it (due to location of amputation), you should apply the tourniquet and record the time.
Bleeding control courses are important, but they can be expensive. Here's how to find them for free.
- Bleeding control: Why it's important and how to perform a pressure bandage
- What to do if someone has lost a lot of blood or lost an arm or leg
Bleeding control courses cover everything from basic first aid techniques like using pressure bandages and tourniquets to more advanced skills like dealing with amputated limbs. They're designed for everyone--not just medics who work with injured people on a daily basis--so even if you've never been injured yourself (and don't expect that situation to change), taking one of these classes will teach you some valuable information about what should happen when someone else gets hurt around you.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the importance of bleeding control courses and how they can be a useful tool in your life. If there are any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out!