Celebrating a Successful 2024 STOP THE

BLEED® Day!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

Last Thursday May 23rd was the fifth annual STOP THE BLEED® Day! Each year, STOP THE BLEED® Day falls on the Thursday of EMS Week and is a day dedicated to promoting the STOP THE BLEED® campaign and educating the public on bleeding-control techniques.

People around the world participated in the #RaiseYourHand campaign, STOP THE BLEED® Instructors and organizations trained members of their communities, and thousands of people were exposed to the STOP THE BLEED® campaign and its importance in saving lives.

The Stop The Bleed Coalition hosted a Live STOP THE BLEED® Day Webinar for Licensed Instructors and organizations, and the American Red Cross hosted “Replace Panic with a Plan”, a LinkedIn Live event with Tacmed.

New Study Shows Only 49% of Americans Could Help in a Bleeding Emergency

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center | May 22nd

A new survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds many Americans are ill-prepared to help in emergency situations. 

The national poll of 1,005 people found only 51% of Americans feel they would be able to perform hands-only CPR in an emergency. When it comes to serious bleeding, 49% said they could step in to help. And 56% of survey participants said they can stop choking.

“Before emergency responders arrive, it’s up to us as the public to initiate care,” said Nicholas Kman, MD, emergency medicine physician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and clinical professor of emergency medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “For every minute that passes, the chance of survival drops, and if they do survive, there’s less chance of a good neurologic outcome.”

Accidents around the home with knives and saws, car crashes and other traumas can cause serious bleeding. STOP THE BLEED® training teaches people to how control bleeding until medical help arrives.

“Initiating hemorrhage control is something that you have to do very quickly,” Kman said. “We know from different studies that a patient with major bleeding can die in two to five minutes depending on the location of the bleed.” 

On STOP THE BLEED® Day, lawmakers introduce bipartisan plan to save lives

Michigan House Republicans |

May 23rd

State Reps. Dave Prestin, Carrie Rheingans, and Mike Harris on Thursday introduced a bipartisan plan to help people save lives by preventing blood loss. The legislation would provide liability protections for people trying to stop bleeding wounds and ensure high school students learn bleeding control techniques. The lawmakers introduced the plan on STOP THE BLEED® Day, which the House of Representatives commemorated in Prestin’s resolution adopted Thursday.

“Seconds count when someone has a major injury,” said Prestin, R-Cedar River, who has worked as a first responder for over 13 years. “A person can bleed out of a major artery within two minutes. Regular people can be the difference between someone dying on the side of the road and getting to see their family again. Anyone willing to help should be able to act quickly without worrying about potential legal liabilities.”

Prestin and Rheingans sponsored House Bills 5742 and 5743, which would add bleeding control to the state’s Good Samaritan law, which protects individuals from legal liability for attempting to save lives in certain emergencies. The law currently applies to administration of an opioid antagonist, CPR, and other emergency response situations. A person would still be liable for acts and omissions that amount to gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct.

“In an emergency, quick work to prevent blood loss can be the difference between life and death, and people shouldn’t have to think twice before attempting bleeding control,” said Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor.

“Good Samaritans who stop the bleed shouldn’t face lawsuits for their noble efforts. Our bipartisan plan will empower bystanders to take action and save lives.”

Harris sponsored House Bill 5741, which would require high school health courses to include instruction and hands-on training on how to stop bleeding using tourniquets, bandages, and other equipment in first aid response kits.

“Everyone can and should be ready to step in during an emergency, stop the bleed, and save a life,” said Harris, R-Waterford, a retired police sergeant and former EMT. “Proper training equips people with the knowledge and experience to apply bleeding control when the need arises. Incorporating this training into high school health classes will help students learn bleeding control and get hands-on training while they’re young, so they’ll be up to the task if they ever need to stop a bleed.”

House Resolution 267 marks May 23, 2024, as Stop the Bleed Day in Michigan. The national Stop the Bleed campaign raises awareness and facilitates training about bleeding control tactics.

@medhelp.4you

@sar.emt03

@yanek43

Submit your STOP THE BLEED® News!

Have relevant news to share with us? Want to highlight STOP THE BLEED® news from an organization or members of your community? Submit your story below!