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A person with a catastrophic bleed can lose a life-threatening amount of blood in minutes, often before an ambulance can arrive. A bleed control kit gives the people nearby the tools to act.
What is a bleed control kit?
A bleed control kit is a small, clearly labelled pack or wall cabinet that anyone can open in an emergency. It is the bleeding equivalent of a public access defibrillator, and the two are often placed side by side.
What should be inside?
- One or more haemorrhage control tourniquets
- Haemostatic gauze for wound packing
- Emergency trauma bandages
- Gloves, shears and a marker pen
- A foil blanket
- Simple, step-by-step instructions
Larger sites, stadiums and transport hubs may choose a mass casualty station with several kits in one cabinet.
Where should it go?
- Next to your AED, so people only need to remember one place
- At reception, security points and busy areas
- Somewhere visible, signed and unlocked when the site is open
- Inside vehicles and site huts for remote or high-risk work
Training
Kits are much more useful when people have had even a short course. Look for bleed control and first aid training for staff, so they know how to apply a tourniquet and pack a wound.
Keeping it ready
- Check seals and contents regularly, using a simple log
- Note expiry dates on gauze and dressings
- Replace anything used straight away