What are Stop the Bleed Kits? Q & A

Apr 17, 2023

May is Stop the Bleed Month, a month used to recognize the importance of basic skills that are necessary to control bleeding from accidents and injuries. Stop the Bleed kits have all the essentials you need to do just that. This month leaves the perfect opportunity for you to educate yourself on what a Stop the Bleed Kit is, how you can utilize its tools, and why it is necessary to have it especially in larger organizations, hazardous workplaces, and in any high-traffic or high-occupancy buildings.

Q: What Is a Bleeding Control Kit?

A: A Stop the Bleed Kit is a compact kit designed to handle injuries caused by immediate life-threatening bleeding and bleeding emergencies caused by gunshot wounds, stabbing, or crushing. These specialized kits have been developed to stop severe bleeding.

Q: What type of Stop the Bleed Kits are there?

A: There are three types of bleeding control kits – Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Q: What is included in each kit?

Basic Bleed Kits include:

(1) permanent marker
(2) pair of gloves
(1) C-A-T tourniquet
(1) emergency bandage
(1) pair of trauma shears
(2) rolls of primed, compressed gauze

Intermediate Bleed Kits include:

(1) Permanent marker
(2) Pair of gloves
(1) C-A-T tourniquet
(1) Emergency bandage
(1) Pair of trauma shears
(2) Rolls of primed, compressed gauze dressing
(1) Pack of H*VENT chest seals (2 per pack)

Advanced Bleed Kits include:

(1) Permanent marker
(2) Pair of gloves
(1) C-A-T tourniquet
(1) Emergency bandage
(1) Pair of trauma shears
(2) Rolls of primed, compressed gauze dressing
(1) Pack of H*VENT chest seals (2 per pack)
(1) Quick Clot combat gauze, also known as hemostatic gauze

Q: How do you know when a Stop the Bleed Kit needs to be used?

A: Stop the Bleed kits are necessary for life-threatening bleeds. Life-threatening bleeds include symptoms such as:

Blood spurting or pumping from a wound
Wounds that will not stop bleeding
Complete or partial amputation
Blood that is pooling on the ground
Blood-soaked bandages
Clothing that is saturated with blood
Loss of consciousness
Rapid heartbeat
Quick, shallow breathing
Low blood pressure
Dizziness, confusion, sweating, fatigue, nausea, or headache

Q: What accidents can it prepare you for?

A: Bleed kits stop life-threatening injuries and bleeding such as gunshot wounds, stabbing, or crushing.

Q: What is the difference between a bleeding control kit and a first aid kit?

A: A bleeding control kit is specifically designed to stop heavy bleeding and handle life-threatening injuries caused by gunshot wounds, stabbing, or crushing. A first aid kit is more so for minor injuries that are non-life threatening such as sprains, frostbites, burns, and deeper cuts. First aid kits are not designed to stop life-threatening bleeds.

AED.com offers a variety of tools to help you train properly for traumatic bleeding accidents such as Stop the Bleed trauma manikins, Severe Bleeding First Aid training, Bloodborne Pathogen course and CPR/AED/First Aid training. We also provide Curaplex Stop the Bleed Metal Wall Cabinet storage for your bleeding control kits, so they can be easily visible and accessible to the public as well as multipacks for larger buildings.

Related Article “Do I Need a Bleed Control Kit in my Workplace?”

We hope that you never have to use these products, but we want to help you be prepared if you do. If you would like to learn more information, please read our Bleeding Control Guide.