Hemorrhage Control: Stopping the Bleed in EMS & Trauma
Life-saving hemorrhage control techniques for EMS and civilians: tourniquets, wound packing, and stopping the bleed in trauma emergencies.
With Dr. Erik Axene, Matt
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Show Notes
Erik and Matt dive deep into modern hemorrhage control techniques for EMS providers. From tourniquets to wound packing with hemostatic agents, this episode covers the evidence-based approaches that save lives in the field.
Topics Covered
• When and how to apply a tourniquet correctly
• Wound packing techniques with hemostatic agents
• Recognizing hemorrhagic shock early
• The ABCs of massive hemorrhage management
• Evidence update: CAT vs SOF-T vs RATS tourniquets
Clinical Pearl
Stop the bleed first. Forget the airway alphabet for a moment — in massive hemorrhage, C comes before A-B. The Hartford Consensus and TECC guidelines both emphasize that uncontrolled external hemorrhage is the most preventable cause of death in trauma.
What You'll Learn
- Identify critical anatomical areas where life-threatening hemorrhage is most likely to occur and how EMS providers can intervene.
- Understand current field treatments for hemorrhage, including tourniquets, wound packing, pelvic binders, and TXA application.
- Apply scene time management principles and early recognition skills to optimize survival in major bleeding scenarios.
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Episode Info
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