Area of Research
Research Team
Location
Bethesda, MD
United States
The Problem
The National Trauma Institute has identified hemorrhaging after a traumatic incident as the leading cause of death for people 1-40 years old. Today, the average person is more likely to be CPR certified or know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver than how to help during a bleeding emergency. In partnership with USU's National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), HJF administered the underlying research required to help develop a program that would help educate people on how to apply tourniquets. On October 6, 2015 the White House launched the Stop the Bleed initiative to prepare the public on what to do in instances of severe bleeding.
The Campaign
Stop the Bleed aims to “better [prepare] the public to save lives if people nearby are severely bleeding.” They offer several resources such as an app and a Stop the Bleed training course to help educate people on basic bleeding control techniques. HJF has made several contributions to this program and together we hope that through these resources, people will become empowered to make a difference during an emergency.
FAST
A First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) curriculum has also been developed for high schools across the country. These programs will offer training on the basic skills needed to deliver first aid to severely injured trauma victims and teach effective emergency communication skills. This program is being developed by NCDMPH in partnership with the American Red Cross.
At the Touch of a Button
HJF's joint office of technology transfer was able to license the intellectual property to application developers to offer research-based resources such as the Stop the Bleed app that is available for free download for Android and iPhone users. The app offers an array of resources that could be critical during a traumatic incident. During a life-threatening emergency, users can access step-by-step instructions on how to help the injured person. It also offers tutorial videos on tourniquet application, FAQ’s and other helpful tips.
Learn about HJF
HJF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine.