Do I Need a Bleeding Control Kit in my Workplace?

Bleeding control kits are crucial tools to keep in schools and public venues, but many don’t realize the importance of having bleeding control kits in the workplace, too. Traumatic injuries that happen during work hours are incredibly common. According to the CDC, traumatic injuries are typically the result of hazards that are present in the workplace. From sharp knives in restaurant kitchens to slippery floors in freshly cleaned restrooms, if safety precautions are not followed, employees and patrons are at risk of being affected by safety hazards. Other factors that can contribute to traumatic injury risks include limited work experience and lack of mandated safety training.

The Journal of Workplace Health and Safety sates, “Uncontrolled blood loss is a primary source of preventable death after injury.”²

Workplace injuries and fatalities are common in industries such as:  

• Agricultural
• Fishing
• Forestry
• Hunting
• Transportation
• Construction
• Warehousing  

Does Your Workplace Need a Stop the Bleed Kit? If so, how many?  

Though there are no federal guidelines to mandate the number of bleeding control kits a workplace has, employers or organizations should have them available regardless of if their employees or customers are at high risk for injury. Unexpected injuries, shootings, and emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. Being prepared for those emergencies will at the least give your workplace comfort in knowing there is a plan of action when an emergency presents itself.  

Ideally, you should have at least one kit for every 10 employees. In the event there is a traumatic event like a mass shooting, it is better to have more than enough equipment to save lives than not enough. We encourage you to stock up on Stop the Bleed kits in hopes that you never have to use them, but have the assurance that they are accessible if needed.  

Workplace Best Practices for Bleeding Control 

• Incorporate staff meetings on emergency protocols and procedures.
• Install clearly-marked and wall-mounted trauma kits next to other publicly accessible equipment such as AED cabinets and first aid kits.
• Rationalize the amount of bleeding control kits for your company: larger workplace sites like corporate environments, industrial environments, farms, warehouses, factories, commercial kitchens, and construction worksites will need multiple kits.
• Offer your employees company-sponsored first aid and Stop the Bleed training sessions to give them reassurance they know how to react in the event of an emergency.  
  Require all building security or guards to carry bleeding control kits and receive Stop the Bleed, CPR, AED, and first aid training.  

To learn more information on these life-saving kits, download our Bleeding Control Guide or contact us through our Contact Us Form. You never know when an emergency may strike – Let us help you be prepared.  

References 

¹CDC. (2022, August 3). Young Worker Safety and Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth/default.html  

²Jones, A. (2020, May). Application of bleeding control training in occupational settings. Workplace health & safety. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31735132/