BRYAN, Texas-- In medical emergencies, (accidents, mass casualty incidents, etc.) quick thinking and proper medical training can save lives. “Stop the Bleed” is a nationwide effort to educate the public on how to properly treat bleeding wounds.

Part of “Stop the Bleed,” a team from Baylor Scott & White stopped by KAGS, Tuesday, to teach us proper ways to treat bleeding injuries.

For information on the training or to check out some of the materials we used (tourniquets, bleed control gauze, etc) go to this website.

Here are some of the things we learned:

The steps to take for Trauma response (ABC’s):

  1. Ensure your own safety
  2. Alert—Call 911
  3. Bleeding – find the bleeding injury
  4. Compress – apply pressure to stop the bleeding
    1. Cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply pressure directly on it with both hands
    2. Using a tourniquet
    3. Packing (stuffing) the wound with gauze or a clean cloth. Then, I apply pressure with both hands.

Proper application of a tourniquet:

  1. Wrap it around the bleeding limb (arm or leg)
  2. Pull the excess part of the strap to make it a tight as possible
  3. Twist the stick (or windlass) until the tourniquet is tight and the bleeding stops
  4. Secure the windlass in C-shaped holder

Proper packing of a wound

  1. Expose the open wound
  2. Stuff bleeding control gauze, regular gauze, or a clean cloth deep into the wound
  3. Apply steady pressure from the top of the wound with both hands. Hold down as hard as you can