When Robert Wood Johnson came up with the concept of first-aid care, did he envision first responders racing to the scene with well-equipped machines and cutting-edge technology? Probably not. But what he did know was that the earlier treatment and care are administered the shorter the recovery time and the chances for a complete recovery. He also understood the necessity of portability even back in 1888. He created what he dubbed the first-aid cabinet and showed how important it was to be able to bring the treatment supplies to the scene of the accident. He understood the necessity of getting bleeding to stop to stabilise the patient. Wouldn’t he be amazed by the bleed control kits offered today by Sands Canada?
Whether you are a first responder or someone treating an accident at home, having a well-stocked medical kit for home and a bleed stop kit can be crucial to saving lives.
Effective Treatment Techniques
When addressing patients with severe wounds, there are a number of things EMT do to assess the severity of the injuries. This helps them to identify the best treatment method of dealing with their injuries. Despite having the best equipment if protocols aren’t followed, patients can die.
To help identify any immediate life-threatening wounds or conditions, EMTs use the ABC concept. The ABCs are as follows:
- Airway
- Breathing
- Circulation
Airway
The airway is defined as the pathway from the nose and mouth to the lungs. When EMTs find a blockage, they need to remove it before treating other wounds or illnesses. If the patient isn’t able to properly breath, it won’t matter how much work is put into other issues, they will die.
Breathing
The patient needs to be able to breathe in order to sustain themselves. If they are not able to breath, first responders will assist them by providing oxygen or performing CPR.
Circulation
Checking for a pulse is, of course, quite important, but so is the quality of the pulse as is the rhythm of the heartbeat.
It should be noted that while ABC is the go-to assessment technique, if a patient is bleeding profusely, EMTs should switch to the CAB method of assessment which means:
- Circulation
- Airway
- Breathing
When bleeding profusely, it is important to get the bleeding to stop as soon as possible. One way to do this is by using a bleed control kit.
Three Types of Bleed Stop Kits
The three types are listed below:
- Basic
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Basic Blood Stop Kit
This kit contains the following:
- 1 Permanent Marker
- 2 Pair latex-free gloves
- 1 Tourniquet
- 1 Emergency Bandage
- 1 Pair of Trauma Shears
- 2 Rolls Compressed Gauze Dressing
Intermediate Blood Stop Kit
This kit contains:
- 1 Permanent Marker
- 2 Pair latex-free gloves
- 1 Tourniquet
- 1 Emergency Bandage
- 1 Pair of Trauma Shears
- 1 Roll Compressed Gauze Dressing
- 1 Pack of H-VENT chest seals
Advanced Blood Stop Kit
This kit contains the following items:
- 1 Permanent Marker
- 2 Pair latex-free gloves
- 1 Tourniquet
- 1 Bleeding Control Dressing
- 1 Emergency Bandage
- 1 Pair of Trauma Shears
- 1 Roll Compressed Gauze Dressing
- 1 Pack of H-VENT chest seals
It is important to properly choose the appropriate bleed kit for your needs. While we cannot foresee accidents, if this kit will be used in an industrial setting it is important to get the advanced blood stop kit. If this is a medical kit for home then the basic kit would be more suitable.
Protecting On-Site Personnel
EMS personnel subject themselves to dangerous situations each and every day. While they rely on their equipment to help them treat patients, they also rely on it to protect them while treating patients. They need to be aware of the area surrounding the patient, as well as the patient themselves. If personnel are responding to a natural disaster, there could be various hazards such as downed power lines, fires, and animals which might attack.
They also need to protect themselves from the very real danger of body fluid contamination. They need to protect themselves against disease or infections from the patient.
Every EMS worker needs to have the following with them at all times:
- Non-Latex Rubber Gloves
- Goggles
- N95 Mask
- Disposable Gown
It is important that the rubber gloves in the kit will fit the hands properly. They need to allow fingers to perform fine motor skills.
Goggles are important so that no body fluids can spray from a wound into the eye of EMS personnel.
An N95 mask will protect EMT workers from contracting Covid-19 and other viruses. They need to fit snugly across the nose and around the outer border to be effective.
Disposable gowns are utilized when there is a great deal of body fluid associated with the treatment necessary. This can be essential in a car accident or fire. These are meant to be single use and are thrown away after treating the patient. This helps to cut down on the spread of bacteria and other body fluids when personnel are moving between patients and treatment centers. It also keeps the uniform clean no matter how messy the scene may be.
No matter what type of blood kit you need, Sands Canada can meet all of your emergency bleeding control kit needs. With over thirty years of experience, we can take care of restocking your kits or providing new ones. Reach out today.