Equip Yourself with Lifesaving Skills – Know How to Stop the Bleed During National Stop the Bleed Month | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
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Equip Yourself with Lifesaving Skills – Know How to Stop the Bleed During National Stop the Bleed Month

 
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The recent back-to-back mass shootings in the United States has focused a lot of attention on how to reduce the number of lives lost in each of these tragic events. When a traumatic event occurs, bystanders often are the first to step up as they wait for emergency medical services (EMS). Uncontrolled bleeding is the No. 1 cause of preventable death from trauma. This includes unexpected penetrating injuries such as gunshot and stab wounds, but it also includes blunt injuries such as motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents and falls. 

According to the National Trauma Institute, excessive bleeding is responsible for nearly 35% of pre-hospital deaths and 40% of deaths during the first 24 hours of a traumatic event. 

Brittany Bankhead, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery for the Division of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, said this life-threatening bleeding can happen in everyday scenarios. 

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  • Brittany Bankhead, M.D.
 

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