What are bleeding control kits?

BCKs or trauma kits are portable first aid kits designed to help stop life-threatening bleeding before medical help arrives. They contain essential supplies to pack wounds and apply pressure to control external bleeding from an injury. Traditionally, they are deployed for use by law enforcement, fire departments and the military in areas where emergency medical services may be delayed.

Contents of a standard BCK

A standard bleeding control kit contains the following basic supplies:

- Gauze rolls or packing material - Sterile gauze is used to pack wounds and apply pressure to stop bleeding. Various sizes of rolls provide flexibility for different wound sizes.

- Pressure dressings - Pre-packaged sterile dressings with elastic Bleeding Control Kits or straps are used to secure the packed gauze in place over wounds, allowing hands-free pressure.

- Tourniquets - Tourniquets such as windlass tourniquets rapidly cut off blood flow above an injury by tightening a strap around an injured limb. They are a medical intervention of last resort for limb bleeding that cannot be stopped through direct pressure.

- Nitrile gloves - Gloves protect users from contacting blood and provide a sterile barrier for wound treatment.

- Trauma shears -blunt-tipped scissors are included to cut through clothing if needed to access injuries.

Advancing availability beyond first responders
While originally designed for use by emergency medical personnel, BKCs are increasingly being deployed more broadly to save lives from potentially fatal bleeding injuries before first responders can arrive. In recent years, various advocacy groups have begun efforts to expand public access to bleeding control supplies and training.

For example, the national Stop the Bleed campaign by the American College of Surgeons aims to train and equip bystanders, teachers and other community members across the US with basic bleeding control response skills. Partnership programs place BCKs in schools, offices, places of worship and public venues where injuries could potentially occur. The goal is to establish bleeding control stations as ubiquitous as fire extinguishers, with a guiding principle of "help is on the way, you are the help."

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