Page 153 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2015

Immediate responder hemorrhage control

ROUNDTABLE ON BYSTANDERS: OUR NATION’S IMMEDIATE RESPONDERS

JAMES BROOKS HART, CMI JAMES BROOKS HART, CMI

• Next to all automatic external defibrillators based on
local need Conclusion
• Immediately recognizable visually or via a Web The most significant preventable cause of death in the
application prehospital environment is external hemorrhage. As
• Secure but accessible locations demonstrated by guidelines enacted by the military,
• Able to be used within three minutes widespread bleeding control is critical to saving lives.
Our nation has a history of learning hard lessons from
Building Resources For Bleeding wartime experiences; the case for hemorrhage control
Control Programs is no different. The Hartford Consensus directs that all
Procurement of equipment and training for bleeding con- responders have the education and necessary equipment
trol requires action at the federal, state, and local levels, for hemorrhage control and strongly endorses civilian
as well as in the private sector. Tourniquet and hemostatic bystanders to act as immediate responders. Immediate
dressing procurement should reflect either the evidence responders represent a foundational element of the abil-
and experience that the U.S. military has gained in the last ity of the U.S. to respond to these events and are a criti-
13 years of war or scientific evidence that becomes avail- cal component of our ability to build national resilience.
able. Federal agencies should make elimination of pre- Immediate responders must be empowered to act, to in-
ventable death from hemorrhage a priority issue that will tervene, and to assist.
influence funding. At the workplaces. It is also important
to note that municipalities can engage in fundraising activ- We are a nation of people who respond to others in need.
ities at the local level to procure equipment. Professional It is no longer sufficient to “see something, say some-
organizations should set standards that encourage educa- thing.” Immediate responders must now “see something,
tion, equipment, and training for immediate responders, do something.”
which should be offered as a measure of public safety. Vol-
unteers can be a resource to provide the training. Author’s Note
All text and images in this article © the Hartford Con-
Considerations for the development and sustainability sensus. Permission to reprint granted by Dr. Jacobs. For
of bleeding control programs include the following: permission to reprint or for more information, contact
Dr. Jacobs at lenworth.jacobs@hhchealth.org.
• Using clear and concise messaging that bleeding con-
trol is an issue for public and private sectors
• Engaging the private sector, including businesses and
trade associations
• Appealing to philanthropic organizations
• Applying for grant funding from government and pri-
vate agencies
• Involving professional, community, social, and faith-
based organizations

The Hartford Consensus 141