STOP THE BLEED® Training and Certification

It takes approximately 3-5 minutes to bleed out from a traumatic hemorrhage injury, yet the average time for first responders to arrive is 7-10 minutes.  Knowing how to stop uncontrolled bleeding is a critical lifesaving skill.  By learning how to STOP THE BLEED®, you can save someone from bleeding to death.

STOP THE BLEED® is a national campaign led by the Department of Defense to train, equip, and empower bystanders to help stabilize an injured person and control severe bleeding until first responders arrive.  The program is administered by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

California Assembly Bill No. 2260, adopted in September 2022, requires certain California schools, businesses and residents to prepare themselves to treat a bleeding emergency, including having trauma bleeding control kits onsite and being instructed on how to use and maintain them.  The Bill also provides liability exemptions to people and entities using the kits.

The STOP THE BLEED® class is a hands-on training designed to equip community members with the knowledge and skills to stop life-threatening bleeding in emergency situations. This class is ideal for anyone who wants to be prepared to save a life, whether at home, at work, or in public spaces.  Participants receive an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma STOP THE BLEED® certification.

The following topics and hands-on skills are covered during a STOP THE BLEED® training:

• Introduction to Bleeding Control
  • Understanding the importance of immediate action in life-threatening bleeding
  • Overview of the different types of bleeding and their severity
• Recognizing Life-Threatening Bleeding
  • How to identify severe bleeding from various parts of the body
  • Key signs that indicate the need for urgent intervention
• Tourniquet Application
  • Step-by-step instruction on applying a commercial tourniquet
  • Practice on simulated limbs to ensure proper technique
  • When and where to place a tourniquet for maximum effectiveness
• Wound Packing
  • Techniques for packing deep wounds with gauze to control bleeding
  • Proper methods to apply direct pressure after packing
• Direct Pressure Application
  • How to apply direct pressure to bleeding wounds when a tourniquet or packing is not an option
  • Best practices for maintaining pressure until help arrives
• Hands-On Practice and Scenarios
  • Participants will engage in realistic scenarios where they must identify and control bleeding using the techniques learned
  • Instructors will provide feedback and tips to improve technique and confidence
• Q&A and Discussion
  • Open forum for participants to ask questions and discuss specific concerns
  • Review of key points and reinforcement of critical skills

By the end of the class, participants will have the confidence and competence to intervene effectively in a bleeding emergency, potentially saving lives. They will receive a certificate of completion, recognizing their new life-saving skills.