CHICAGO — The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Stop the Bleed program announced today that it has surpassed 5 million people who are now able to control severe bleeding and save a life. This milestone reflects the program’s exponential growth since its launch in 2016, with people now trained in all 50 U.S. states and at least 141 countries.
“Reaching 5 million people trained is a testament to the power of teaching communities these critical lifesaving skills,” said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO of the ACS. “Our mission doesn’t stop at 5 million. We will continue our efforts until bleeding control training is as ubiquitous as CPR.”
A Global Movement for Preparedness
The ACS Stop the Bleed program teaches individuals how to identify life-threatening bleeding and to use three techniques while waiting for emergency assistance to arrive:
- Apply direct pressure
- Pack wounds with gauze, ideally using gauze that contains a hemostatic agent
- Apply a tourniquet, if needed
ACS Stop the Bleed courses, which take around 90 minutes, are led by more than 180,000 certified instructors worldwide, including medical professionals, educators, first responders, and community leaders.
Recent Expansions & Partnerships
The ACS Stop the Bleed program’s reach has grown through key initiatives, including:
“From Chicago to Ukraine and communities around the world, we’ve seen how these skills save lives — whether in mass casualty events or everyday accidents,” said Kenji Inaba, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Chair of the ACS Stop the Bleed Committee. “We plan to train millions more. We’re just getting started.”
Join Us
To find a course near you or to become an instructor, visit stopthebleed.org.
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About ACS Stop the Bleed
The ACS Stop the Bleed program administers the premier bleeding control course and was created by leading trauma and emergency response professionals. ACS Stop the Bleed is the largest global provider of bleeding control training and is instrumental in the development of both state and national legislation in the U.S. to empower the public with training and access to Stop the Bleed kits. The ACS Stop the Bleed program is operated pursuant to a licensing agreement granted by the U.S. Department of Defense.
