Stop the Bleed

Did you know:

According to the CDC, over 275,000 people die from injuries in the US each year, that’s 1 person every 3 minutes.

Stop the Bleed® 

The Terrell Fire Department is deeply committed to public safety and proud to serve our vibrant community. We want to share a crucial piece of information: the number one cause of preventable death after an injury is bleeding, according to the American College of Surgeons.

To bolster our public safety mission, we urge every member of our community to "see something, do something" when it comes to bleeding emergencies. When an injury occurs, it's almost always family, friends, co-workers, or other bystanders who are first on the scene. Your ability to perform a few simple, life-saving interventions could be the critical difference between life and death.

That's why we're highlighting Stop the Bleed®, a nationwide campaign designed to empower individuals like you to act quickly and save lives. By following a few straightforward steps, you truly have the power to make a difference.

Call 911

As soon as you recognize an injury has occurred, call 9-1-1 immediately. Time is absolutely critical. Rapid treatment and swift transport are both key components for a successful outcome in a bleeding emergency. Your call puts professional help in motion.

Dress & Press

Apply any clean cloth or bleeding control gauze if available to the wound and apply steady firm pressure directly to the wound.

Tourniquet - How to Use a Tourniquet

If bleeding cannot be controlled through direct pressure, a tourniquet (if available) should be applied if the injury is on an arm or leg. Apply the tourniquet 3 inches about the injury site (closer to the torso) at a minimum (“High and Tight”). A tourniquet can be placed over clothing.

Wrap: wrap the strap around the extremity, through the buckle, and secured back to itself. Pull the slack out as tight as possible.

Wind: Spin the windlass or rode 2 to 3 times until bleeding has stopped. Don’t spin the windlass more than 3 times.

Secure: Secure the windlass in the provided clip and place the hook and loop strap over it.

Time: Write the time in the space provided.

If the bleeding doesn’t stop, apply a second tourniquet if available and apply additional pressure to the wound. 

Training

Stop the Bleed® training is available online https://www.stopthebleed.org/training/   or through the Terrell Fire Department. If your organization would like to inquire about setting up a class, please email us.