Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign intended to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. The campaign was initiated by a federal interagency workgroup convened by the National Security Council Staff and the White House in 2015.
Basic Bleeding Control Classes
As part of the Stop the Bleed campaign, the American College of Surgeons has developed a nationally standardized curriculum for Basic Bleeding Control Classes. These classes put knowledge gained by the military into the hands of the public to save lives by controlling severe bleeding in emergency situations. These courses are offered nationwide at no cost to attendees.
Washington University’s Stop the Bleed Initiative (WU-STB)
Acute and Critical Care Surgery faculty, led by Dr. Laurie Punch, have partnered with the American College of Surgeons to bring the Basic Bleeding Control curriculum to the Washington University community, as well as the St. Louis general public, in a multi-phased approach. Currently in Phase I, ACCS faculty are training healthcare professionals in the St. Louis area to become certified Basic Bleeding Control Course instructors. These instructors will then in turn be able to teach the WU-STB Basic Bleeding Control Classes throughout the university and greater St. Louis communities upon request. In Phase II, set to begin mid-2018, WU-STB Basic Bleeding Courses will be scheduled at various University facilities and will be open to the public.
WU-STB Basic Bleeding Courses are:
- One hour in length
- Free
- Follow the national curriculum designed and vetted by the American College of Surgeons
- ONLY led by trained healthcare professionals including surgeons, physicians, and EMS professionals
- Accessible to target populations
- Consist of both a cognitive and psychomotor lesson
- Provide time for hands-on practice and questions from participants
- Provide a Basic Bleeding Control Certification to students who successfully complete the course and demonstrate proper bleeding control techniques
- Engage the community and allow for dialogue between medical professionals and persons most likely to be affected by or know someone affected by traumatic injury
- Empower the public to perform lifesaving actions
Get Involved
Become an Instructor. Healthcare professionals who would like to become a certified instructor through WU-STB should contact us to enroll in a “train-the-trainer” event.
Host a Course. If your organization, neighborhood or place of business is interested in bringing this life-saving information to your people, we can help! Contact us to schedule a course taught by a WU-STB certified instructor.
Attend a Course. Click here to find a Basic Bleeding Control Course offered by an American College of Surgeons partner in your area.
For more information, contact Erin Andrade, MD, MPH, at info@stopthebleedstl.org.