STOP THE BLEED® Enters a New Era

STOP THE BLEED® Program

The U.S. Department of War has announced a new era for STOP THE BLEED® and has launched a new home at DODstopthebleed.org.

It started with soldiers. Service members were taught to control life-threatening bleeding, then used those skills in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep their fellow service members alive. They brought that knowledge home, so that regular people can act in the minutes before first responders arrive and take over.

Now the Program has set a goal: to make bleeding control as widely known as CPR, which it defines as more than 20 million people trained each year. An estimated 10 million people have been trained since the 2015 launch, more than 4 million of them in 2025 alone, through more than 3,000 licensed organizations in 172 countries.

STOP THE BLEED® is not simply another term for bleeding control. It is a defined standard for training and equipment, and the Program has published Brand Standards setting out how the name and logo are used.

This is the first of several changes planned for the year ahead, including improvements to how training is licensed and to the tools available to licensed instructors and organizations.

The Stop the Bleed Coalition is proud to support the Program. Please visit dodstopthebleed.org and share it with your colleagues and community.

Visit the new website.

The Five Minute Emergency: Why Bleeding Control Matters in the Backcountry

Boondocking Magazine

Patrick O’Neill, CEO of Cadence Brand Management, brand manager and licensing agent for the STOP THE BLEED® program, explores the importance of bleeding control preparedness for campers, RV travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts who venture into remote areas. When camping off-grid or exploring the backcountry, emergency medical services may be hours away, making self-reliance and emergency preparedness especially important. From injuries involving sharp tools and outdoor equipment to unexpected accidents on the trail, serious bleeding emergencies can happen even during routine outdoor activities. Carrying a well-stocked bleeding control kit, knowing how to use a tourniquet, and ensuring fellow travelers have basic bleeding control training can make a critical difference when help is far away. The article reinforces the importance of incorporating STOP THE BLEED® training and supplies into every camper’s emergency preparedness plan.

Read the full story.

TIME Magazine Highlights the Importance of Lifesaving Training in Schools, Including STOP THE BLEED®

TIME

In a recent TIME article, “Why Aren’t We Teaching Every Student CPR?”, authors Meng Yang and John Maa emphasize the importance of making lifesaving skills a standard part of education for students across the United States. While 43 states currently require some form of CPR education before high school graduation, efforts to expand emergency response training continue nationwide. The article specifically highlights Indiana, where emergency response professionals have helped bring STOP THE BLEED® training into schools, supported by the state’s Secured School Safety Grant program, which provides funding opportunities for bleeding control training and kits. These initiatives demonstrate how partnerships between educators, emergency responders, and policymakers can help make lifesaving education more accessible to students. Expanding both CPR and STOP THE BLEED® training in schools is an important step toward preparing the next generation to respond confidently and effectively in emergencies.

Read the full story.

Las Vegas Sheriff Highlights STOP THE BLEED® Training on Anniversary of October 1 Tragedy

Fox 5 Vegas

Nine years after the October 1, 2017, mass shooting in Las Vegas, the importance of emergency preparedness and bleeding control training remains a priority for local law enforcement. In a recent FOX5 Las Vegas news segment, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill discusses how officers are trained in STOP THE BLEED® techniques to prepare for emergencies at large public events. The segment highlights the continued emphasis on equipping law enforcement with lifesaving skills to respond quickly when serious injuries occur. As Las Vegas remembers the victims of the tragedy, the discussion reinforces the role of bleeding control training in public safety and emergency response.

Watch the segment.

National Preparedness Month is Here!

Stop The Bleed Coalition

National Preparedness Month is a time dedicated to encouraging individuals, families, and communities to prepare for emergencies before they happen. While preparedness often brings to mind natural disasters and severe weather, it also includes being ready to respond to life-threatening injuries and medical emergencies.

STOP THE BLEED® plays a vital role in emergency preparedness by equipping everyday people with the skills and confidence to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action before professional help arrives. By learning how to control severe bleeding, community members can become immediate responders and help save lives when every second counts.

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma.

It only takes an average of 3-5 minutes for a person to bleed out, yet it takes an average of 7-10 minutes for first responders to arrive on the scene.

This means it is crucial to make sure people are prepared to step in and save a life if they encounter a life-threatening bleed.

Emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye, are you and your loved ones prepared?

In addition to building an Emergency Supply Kit, making a Family Emergency Plan, and taking a STOP THE BLEED® class if you haven’t already, we encourage you to purchase a Department of Defense Licensed STOP THE BLEED® Kit for your family to make sure you have all of the tools at hand to stop a life-threatening bleed.

Read the full story.

Summer Safe Pensacola Equips Hospitality Workers with Lifesaving Skills

Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola

Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and Visit Pensacola partnered this summer to provide hospitality and tourism workers with hands-on emergency response training through the Summer Safe Pensacola Series. Across three events, approximately 75 hotel and restaurant staff, attraction operators, and recreation professionals learned Hands-Only CPR, STOP THE BLEED®, and water safety skills. Participants practiced techniques for controlling severe bleeding, which is a leading cause of preventable death following traumatic injury, preparing them to respond quickly before professional help arrives. The series is planned to continue as an annual event, expanding access to lifesaving skills throughout the Pensacola community.

Read the full story.

National Preparedness Month Encourages Workforce to Stand Ready

U.S. Army

During National Preparedness Month, Tobyhanna Army Depot is encouraging its workforce to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies and build the skills needed to respond when seconds matter. Emergency Management Specialist Scott Ahner, who has extensive experience coordinating high-stakes emergency operations, emphasizes that preparedness starts well before an incident through planning, training, and understanding potential risks. Employees are encouraged to know their risks, make an emergency plan, build a preparedness kit, and stay informed, while practical training such as CPR/AED certification and STOP THE BLEED® gives them lifesaving skills they can use when professional help may not immediately be available. Ahner’s message reinforces that emergency preparedness is a year-round responsibility, with small actions taken today helping employees and their communities respond more confidently when emergencies occur.

Read the full story.

September is National Preparedness Month!

Stop The Bleed Coalition

As National Preparedness Month approaches this September, the STOP THE BLEED® campaign is reminding communities that emergency preparedness goes beyond having supplies—it means having the skills to save a life. Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma, and a person can bleed to death in as little as 3–5 minutes, often before first responders arrive. This month, make sure your household is prepared by building an emergency supply kit, creating a family emergency plan, and taking a STOP THE BLEED® training course if you haven’t already. The Coalition also recommends keeping a Department of Defense Licensed STOP THE BLEED® Kit on hand so you have the proper tools ready when a life-threatening bleeding emergency occurs.

Read the full story.

STOP THE BLEED® class helps Central Florida attendees save lives

Spectrum News 13

A recent Spectrum News story highlights the life-saving impact of STOP THE BLEED® training in Central Florida, where community members learned how to respond to life-threatening bleeding emergencies. The article emphasizes that severe bleeding can cause a person to lose consciousness in under a minute and bleed to death within just a few minutes, making immediate action critical. Participants received hands-on instruction in using tourniquets and compression bandages, demonstrating that these skills can be learned by people of all ages and backgrounds. The story also highlights a recent real-world example in which a bystander used a tourniquet to help save a woman who was attacked by an alligator.

Read the full story.

El Paso Walmart shooting survivor hosts first aid crisis training event ahead of memorial

K Fox 14

An El Paso Walmart shooting survivor is transforming remembrance into community preparedness through STOP THE BLEED® training. Claudia Cano organized a free first aid and CPR training event ahead of the anniversary of the 2019 shooting that claimed 23 lives, with a particular focus on bleeding-control skills that can be used during shootings, stabbings, accidents, and other emergencies. Cano emphasized that severe bleeding can become fatal within minutes, meaning bystanders—including friends, coworkers, or strangers—may be the ones in a position to save a life before first responders arrive. Her message reflects a central goal of STOP THE BLEED®: turning tragedy into readiness by empowering everyday people with the knowledge and confidence to act when seconds count.

Read the full story.

Dad 101: When community risk reduction starts at home

Fire Rescue 1

A recent FireRescue1 article highlights how fire and EMS departments can strengthen Community Risk Reduction (CRR) by reaching families before an emergency happens. Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue’s “Dad 101” program provides fathers and father figures with practical safety education, including basic first aid, CPR, choking response, emergency planning, fire prevention, and STOP THE BLEED® training. The program reflects a broader shift from a reactive emergency-response model toward prevention and preparedness, giving community members the skills and confidence to act before professional help arrives. For STOP THE BLEED®, it reinforces the importance of making bleeding-control education part of everyday community preparedness and empowering families to become more resilient in an emergency.

Read the full story.

STOP THE BLEED® plays a vital role in emergency preparedness by equipping everyday people with the skills and confidence to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action before professional help arrives. By learning how to control severe bleeding, community members can become immediate responders and help save lives when every second counts.

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma.

It only takes an average of 3-5 minutes for a person to bleed out, yet it takes an average of 7-10 minutes for first responders to arrive on the scene.

This means it is crucial to make sure people are prepared to step in and save a life if they encounter a life-threatening bleed.

Emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye, are you and your loved ones prepared?

In addition to building an Emergency Supply Kit, making a Family Emergency Plan, and taking a STOP THE BLEED® class if you haven’t already, we encourage you to purchase a Department of Defense Licensed STOP THE BLEED® Kit for your family to make sure you have all of the tools at hand to stop a life-threatening bleed.

STOP THE BLEED® Bleeding Control Skills Contribute to Saving a City Officer’s Life

NBC Philadelphia

A recent story out of Atlantic City highlights the lifesaving impact of rapid bleeding control and trauma care. Sgt. Christian Ivanov was critically injured after being shot while serving a search warrant, suffering damage to his femoral artery and vein that caused severe blood loss. Doctors said he was only minutes from death, but credited fellow SWAT officers—who applied bleeding control measures and transported him directly to a trauma center—as key factors in saving his life. Medical staff emphasized that the officers’ STOP THE BLEED® knowledge, combined with swift surgical intervention, gave Ivanov a second chance at life and contributed to his remarkable recovery.

Read the full story.

UGA Expands Access to Emergency Preparedness Education and Training

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia’s Office of Emergency Preparedness is expanding access to lifesaving skills across the state through more than 150 annual training sessions for students, faculty, and staff. These programs include CPR/AED instruction, STOP THE BLEED®, and emergency response training, helping participants gain the confidence and skills needed to act during critical emergencies. University leaders emphasized that this training strengthens community preparedness year-round, particularly during natural disasters and other large-scale emergencies. Participants shared that the hands-on training not only improves readiness but also empowers them to protect their communities when every second counts.

Read the full story.

New Research Explores Automated Tourniquets for Hemorrhage Control

Frontiers in Medical Technology Journal

New research from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research highlights the potential of automated tourniquet technology to improve hemorrhage control in emergency settings. In laboratory testing, researchers developed a pneumatic tourniquet system that automatically adjusts pressure to stop bleeding while responding to changes such as loosening during patient movement or overtightening that could increase the risk of tissue damage. The system achieved hemorrhage control in under 40 seconds and maintained effective pressure without continuous user intervention. Researchers suggest that automated tourniquets could help reduce the cognitive burden on first responders and medical personnel while improving patient outcomes in high-stress environments.

Read the research report.

This Year’s STOP THE BLEED® Day – a Huge Success!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

We had an incredible STOP THE BLEED® Day this year!

We saw people across the nation and around the world get involved in this year’s STOP THE BLEED® Day activities. Thank YOU for supporting the STOP THE BLEED® campaign this year. Whether you Raised Your Hand, shared your STOP THE BLEED® story, trained others, got trained, or spread the word about the campaign within your community, we couldn’t do it without you!

STOP THE BLEED® Project Grant Program Applications Close Soon – Free Training Equipment

STOP THE BLEED® Project

STOP THE BLEED® Grant Program Applications are due Sunday, May 31st at 11:59pm EST! Receive FREE Training Equipment! U.S. Organizations who apply could receive free STOP THE BLEED® Training Equipment.

To be Eligible for a Grant:

1. Grant applicants must have been issued a STOP THE BLEED® Educational License or have an application pending.
2. Grant Applicants must be organizations based in the United States.
3. Organizations that have previously received a grant are not eligible to apply.

How Bystander Intervention in Bleeding Emergencies Affects EMS Care – the Impact of STOP THE BLEED®

EMS 1 | Stop The Bleed Coalition

The Stop The Bleed Coalition team submitted a special byline to EMS1 in honor of STOP THE BLEED® Day specifically covering how STOP THE BLEED® intervention effects EMS procedure and hospital hand off.

“The call comes in as a stabbing. By the time the crew arrives, a man is on the ground with a tourniquet already applied. It’s tight and positioned about two inches above the wound. A bystander crouches next to him, phone in hand, visibly shaken but focused. She tells the paramedic exactly when she applied it.

The quick actions she learned in a STOP THE BLEED® class just saved his life. EMS arrived 9 minutes after the stabbing, and a person can bleed out from a life-threatening wound in as little as 3-5 minutes. In the United States, approximately 40,000 people die each year from traumatic bleeding, and many of these deaths could have been prevented if someone on the scene knew what to do and took the appropriate action.

Scenes like this are exactly what the STOP THE BLEED program was designed to make possible…” Read the full article at EMS1

Michigan State Representative Dave Prestin Announces Resolution Declaring Thursday of EMS Week Official STOP THE BLEED® Day in Michigan

Michigan House Republicans

Dave Prestin announced a resolution recognizing the annual Thursday of EMS Week as STOP THE BLEED® Day in Michigan. As a paramedic, he reflected on the importance of everyday people being prepared for a bleeding emergency and empowering themselves and highlighted the life saving skills gained from STOP THE BLEED® training.

Watch the announcement.

STOP THE BLEED® Month Starts in ONE WEEK!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

Mark your calendars! We’re officially ONE WEEK AWAY from STOP THE BLEED® Month and less than a month away from the 9th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Day on May 21 2026, a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to learn the knowledge and skills to save lives in an emergency and spreading awareness for the STOP THE BLEED® campaign.

This year’s STOP THE BLEED® Month features several opportunities for STOP THE BLEED® Instructors, Licensed Organizations, and members of the public including:

• The second annual STOP THE BLEED® Trainathon, powered by the STOP THE BLEED® Training Management System
• The annual STOP THE BLEED® Grant Program that provides Licensed Organizations the opportunity to receive training kit grants
• The “Raise Your Hand”, “#MySTOPTHEBLEEDStory”, and “Would You Know” social media awareness programs
• A STOP THE BLEED® Quiz to test and expand public knowledge of bleeding control
• Resources for individuals and organizations to help expand campaign awareness

Visit stopthebleedproject.org for the full list of programs and activities!

Rossville Students Learn STOP THE BLEED® Skills

Lafayette Journal & Courier | April 6, 2026

Students at Rossville Middle and High School recently took part in a hands-on STOP THE BLEED® training program, learning how to respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Working alongside local EMS professionals, participants practiced critical skills such as applying direct pressure, packing wounds, and using tourniquets to control severe bleeding. Educators emphasized that uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death, with victims potentially dying within minutes without intervention. By bringing this training into schools, the program aims to empower young people with the confidence and ability to act in emergencies.

Read the full article here

Schuyler County schools prepare for Stop the Bleed law with community support

KTVO | April 23, 2026

Beginning next school year, a new Stop The Bleed law will require all public and charter schools in Missouri to implement STOP THE BLEED® protocols which includes installing bleeding control kits and hosting STOP THE BLEED® training. Schools in Schuyler County are already preparing to implement these new safety requirements, with strong support from local emergency services and community partners. The initiative will place bleeding-control kits in schools and ensure staff and community members are trained to respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Local officials emphasize that in rural areas, where EMS response times may be longer, immediate action by those on scene can be critical to survival. As the program rolls out, it reflects a growing commitment to equipping schools and communities with the tools and knowledge needed to save lives when seconds matter.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

SAVE THE DATE! STOP THE BLEED® Day is less than 2 months away!

STOP THE BLEED® Project

Mark your calendars! We’re less than 2 months away from the 9th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Day on May 21 2026, a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to learn the knowledge and skills to save lives in an emergency and spreading awareness for the STOP THE BLEED® campaign.

We’ll be announcing all the ways that people can participate on STOP THE BLEED® Day as well as during STOP THE BLEED® Month (May 2026).  There is literally something for everyone – training opportunities, how to help us create more awareness of STOP THE BLEED®, among other things.

Stay tuned for our upcoming announcements in the weeks ahead so you have plenty of time to pick and choose how to be part of this important day.

NDSU Expands Rural Stop the Bleed Training Across North Dakota

News Dakota | March 2nd, 2026

North Dakota State University Extension and the NDSU School of Nursing have partnered to offer free Stop the Bleed trainings across rural North Dakota communities, with their third year of the program kicking off in Barnes County on March 4. Nursing faculty have traveled to North Dakota counties and worked with NDSU Extension agents to conduct the trainings. Because of the state’s rurality, the time it takes first responders to reach an injured person can be critical to survival. The program also aims to certify community members as Stop the Bleed instructors so that training can continue even after the current grant funding ends.

Photo: Katherine Plessner

Read the full article here

Bleeding control training through UK HealthCare empowers bystanders to save lives

FOX 56 Lexington | March 1, 2026 | Allie Root

UK HealthCare’s Trauma Program is offering free Stop the Bleed workshops to equip community members with lifesaving skills, with Trauma Medical Director Dr. Andrew Bernard noting that bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death among young Kentuckians. The workshops use a hands-on approach teaching wound pressure, gauze packing, and tourniquet application — drawing participants from everyday community members to competitive shooters preparing for worst-case scenarios.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

STOP THE BLEED® Save: How a Tourniquet and Training Saved Emery’s Life

CookChildren’s Checkup Newsroom | February 10, 2026

After a serious dirt bike crash left young Emery with a catastrophic leg injury, first responders quickly applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding, a step doctors say ultimately saved her life. Trauma specialists later emphasized that severe blood loss can become fatal within minutes, making rapid intervention at the scene essential. Emery’s survival highlights how access to bleeding-control tools and training through programs like STOP THE BLEED® can make the difference between life and death. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that when bystanders and responders are prepared, they can act decisively and save lives before patients ever reach the hospital.

Read the full article here

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Spearheads “Stop the Bleed” Training at Level II Trauma Center

Naval Medical Center | January 29, 2026

At Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, trauma teams are expanding community training through the Stop the Bleed program to ensure civilians can respond to life-threatening injuries before first responders arrive. Participants learn hands-on skills such as applying direct pressure, packing wounds, and properly using tourniquets — techniques proven to prevent deaths from severe blood loss. As a Level II trauma center, the hospital is positioning bleeding-control education as a critical part of public preparedness and emergency response. The effort reinforces the message that when communities are trained and equipped, ordinary people can take extraordinary action to save lives in those first crucial minutes.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition

Missouri Legislation Requires STOP THE BLEED® Kits in Schools and Annual STOP THE BLEED® Training

KY3 News | December 29, 2025

Missouri’s new Stop the Bleed Act, signed into law in July 2025, will require all public schools to place bleeding control kits in high-traffic areas like gyms, cafeterias, and auditoriums and designate at least one staff member per school to receive annual Stop the Bleed training when it takes effect in 2026. The law aims to empower school personnel to provide immediate life-saving interventions, like applying tourniquets and packing wounds, before first responders arrive — especially in rural areas with longer EMS response times. Additionally, staff who use the kits in good faith are protected from civil liability, helping reduce hesitation to act in emergencies.

Read the full article here

STOP THE BLEED® Spotlight – Trilogy Redmond Ridge Community Training

Washington | January 2026

We’re excited to spotlight the incredible work being done to promote STOP THE BLEED® education and preparedness.

A few words from lead STOP THE BLEED® Instructor Polly Roush:

“I’m proud to serve as a member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in Redmond, WA. As the lead instructor for our community’s Stop the Bleed® program, I have the privilege of working alongside 20 volunteer instructors who share a commitment to improving our neighborhood’s readiness and resilience.

To date, we’ve trained over 370 residents through free classes offered at our community clubhouse. These classes are made possible with the support of the Trilogy Board, which provided the required equipment necessary to conduct the training. The Stop the Bleed® program, a national initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Defense and the American College of Surgeons, empowers individuals to provide immediate, life-saving care for severe bleeding until professional help arrives.

This initiative demonstrates how collaboration, education, and community engagement can strengthen safety for everyone. I’m incredibly proud of our neighbors for their willingness to learn and prepare, and of our volunteers and community leadership for making this program possible.

If your community doesn’t yet have a Stop the Bleed® program, I encourage you to explore starting one. It’s a simple, practical way to make a real difference when seconds count.”

Champaign County’s STOP THE BLEED® training hopes to save lives

WTDN 2 News | January 2026

Champaign County in Ohio has launched a countywide Stop the Bleed initiative that will train all local law enforcement officers on bleeding control techniques and equip every patrol vehicle with standardized bleeding control kits, with training beginning in early January 2026 and kits expected to be operational shortly thereafter. The program, led by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, also includes educational sessions for 911 dispatchers, EMS staff, and key community partners to strengthen emergency response collaboration. Future plans aim to expand training opportunities to schools, businesses, and other community groups to enhance overall preparedness in the region.

Read the full article here

Thanks for reading!

-Stop The Bleed Coalition