Why STOP THE BLEED® Training Matters

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Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death after injury. In many emergencies such as car crashes, workplace accidents, or even violent incidents someone can lose their life in as just 2-5 minutes if bleeding isn’t controlled.

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Why it’s critical:

• A person can bleed to death in 2-5 minutes.

• Ambulances often take longer than that to arrive.

• Bystanders are the true “first responders.”

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Research shows that trauma is the number one cause of death among Americans ages 1–46, costing over $670 billion annually. After traumatic brain injuries, hemorrhage accounts for the majority of preventable deaths. Many of these lives could be saved with early bleeding control. [1] Globally, hemorrhage is responsible for 30–40% of trauma mortality, with up to half of those deaths happening before reaching the hospital. [2]

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What STOP THE BLEED® teaches:

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• How to recognize life-threatening bleeding.

• How to use direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets.

• How to act quickly and confidently before professional help arrives.

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Real-world impact:

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STOP THE BLEED® training empowers everyday people, not just medical professionals to save lives. By learning these simple but powerful skills, you could be the difference between life and death for a family member, friend, or stranger in need. This isn’t just theory. For example, in one case, an EMT used his STOP THE BLEED® training to save a man who was struck by a subway train, which demonstrated how fast action with a tourniquet can mean for survival instead of tragedy [3].

 

 

National awareness:

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Every year, May 22 is recognized as National STOP THE BLEED® Day, bringing together schools, workplaces, and communities to spread awareness and teach these vital skills [4]. The official STOP THE BLEED®  program, led by the American College of Surgeons, has already trained over a million people worldwide, and it continues to grow [5].

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At Project BloodLine, we believe everyone should have access to this training, especially underserved and Spanish-speaking communities where access to resources can be limited. By expanding awareness and access, we aim to save lives where every second matters.

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Sources:

[1] Scandinavian Journal of Trauma (U.S. data)

[2] The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care

[3] News article – EMT uses STOP THE BLEED® to save man after subway accident

[4] National STOP THE BLEED® Day

[5] Official StopTheBleed.org​