May marks the annual National STOP THE BLEED® Month, and May 25 is the sixth annual National STOP THE BLEED Day.
Uncontrolled bleeding from trauma is a major cause of preventable death for all ages, and the ACS STOP THE BLEED program, which is a collaborative effort with the US Department of Defense, has played an integral role in increasing public and healthcare professional readiness response to bleeding emergencies. More than 2.6 million individuals are now trained in STOP THE BLEED techniques.
“When severe bleeding injuries occur, every second matters. STOP THE BLEED training from the ACS is a simple and effective way to educate the public on how to safely intervene to help prevent death from traumatic injuries,” said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the ACS. “The ACS is proud to promote efforts that will make STOP THE BLEED training as common as CPR training and other first aid techniques.”
Media interviews this month featured Kenji Inaba, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Chair of the ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) Stop the Bleed Committee, and Nilda Garcia, MD, FACS, Chair of the ACS COT Verification Review Committee. They are among the surgeons and STOP THE BLEED advocates spreading the word about the importance of bleeding control training.
The program has been the center of several important advocacy and outreach activities. In September 2022, the ACS chapters in California helped advocate for and secure passage of the state’s STOP THE BLEED bill, which requires the installation of trauma bleeding control kits in newly constructed public and private buildings throughout the state. Nineteen other states have introduced legislation related to STOP THE BLEED priorities.
In March, the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field took an important step to keep fans, staff, and players safe by becoming the first Major League Baseball stadium to have trauma kits installed. On May 25, the ACS, in collaboration with the Cubs and the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, will provide training and information about STOP THE BLEED outside Wrigley Field before a Cubs game.
For more details about STOP THE BLEED, including training opportunities and kit sales, visit stopthebleed.org.
