Throughout our lives, we’ve been educated on the importance of basic First-Aid skills. However, a specific subcategory of first-aids skills called BCON, short for Bleeding Control is not as widely practiced. Emergency Bleeding Control describes the actions taken to control bleeding from a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury. Controlling an injured person’s bleeding is extremely important, and in certain situations, can mean the difference between life and death.In order to avoid life-threatening situations due to excessive bleeding, it is important to stay up-to-date on bleed control skills. Prepare yourself and your employees for a worst case scenario by being trained in the proper techniques.
Last July, University of Rochester Campus Police Officer Michael Fitzgerald was able to save a life by putting into action his knowledge gained from his previous work as an EMT and police officer. Mr. Fitzgerald responded to a call regarding a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle. The cyclist was critically injured, including several lacerations on his body. One laceration was very deep and after trying to use a shirt to stop the bleeding, he went into his patrol bag where he was conveniently carrying a tourniquet. Because of his training, he was able to slow the bleeding until the paramedics arrived.
There is an opportunity to save even more lives by putting this knowledge into the hands of the public. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently launched the national Stop the Bleed campaign aimed at educating bleed control techniques to the private sector and non-profit organizations. With this campaign, the government wants to improve public awareness and access to bleed control kits similar to that of CPR and defibrillator use.
This nationwide campaign is making it possible for everyone to become life savers and heroes. Bleed control information is now far more accessible and not just restricted to health care workers and law enforcement officials. In a time when we, unfortunately, experience terrorist attacks, active shooter events, and natural catastrophic events semi-regularly, it can be difficult for proper paramedics come to the scene before the situation becomes fatal. It’s important that everybody who is capable is armed with bleed control skills in an effort to minimize the effects of tragic accidents and horrifying events.
Bleed control education is one of the most important pieces of general medical knowledge in American history. There are a number of local training centers that offer different BCON training courses, including informational, awareness and technician courses. An informational course will provide you with a Stop The Bleed Campaign overview as well as basic tourniquet use. Awareness courses will equip you with the proper knowledge to prepare yourself to provide these life-saving techniques, and technician courses give a comprehensive overview of treating acute traumatic injuries.
Once implemented in general awareness and beyond, America will reap the positive results of bleed control education. To learn more about the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop the Bleed campaign click here.