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Home » Medical » Bleed, Trauma & Mass Casualty Response » Bleed Control/Trauma Dressings & Bandages

Bleed Control/Trauma Dressings & Bandages

Having a supply of Trauma Dressings & Bandages to treat major bleed injuries before emergency services arrive is simple to do to and saves lives.

Workplaces or sites with any hazards such as machinery, sharp or moving objects which have potential to cause critical injuries such as major bleeding must have 'adequate and appropriate’ first aid for any risks present. Alongside other health and safety measures, this may be achieved by adding bleed control products to existing first aid provisions.

Furthermore, public premises and events are strongly encouraged by ProtectUK and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) to provide access to products to treat traumatic injuries such as major bleeding.

Which Bleed Control Products Do I Need?

We offer a market leading range of Trauma and Bleed Control Kits in a range of formats from single person treatments to mass casualty options where life saving supplies can be deployed for rapid treatment of multiple individuals.

Our range is based around likely scenarios to be considered in risk assessments across a wide range of premises, so there is a simple, practical and attainable solution available for all kinds of organisation.

We also offer a comprehensive range of refill items featuring dozens of individual components featured within the various type of trauma and bleed control kits. Buying individual items is ideal for organisations and medical professionals to supplement their existing supplies, or for where there may be a specific risk or product need. We offer a full selection of the biggest and most reliable brands in this area.

To help decide which Trauma Bleed Control products your organisation may need to meet its first aid obligations we have created the below guide which summarises each product type, their applications and purchasing considerations:

Trauma Dressings

Essential item for treating moderate to severe bleed injuries.

Trauma dressings feature large, thick absorbent pads, and elasticated straps with an integrated fixing, usually Velcro. This helps to instantly apply direct pressure to wounds to stem blood flow, at the same time as absorbing blood and providing protection from contaminants. Depending on the severity and location of the wound, haemostatic products and tourniquets may be used in conjunction with trauma dressings. Trauma dressings are supplied vacuum packed, are low cost, and can be easily added to existing first aid supplies.

Haemostatic Dressings

Haemostatic dressings can be easily added to existing first aid supplies.

Effective for controlling severe bleeding in areas where a tourniquet cannot be used, and effective on smaller ‘neater’ injuries where bleeding is too much for standard first aid items. Haemostat products feature various agents specifically designed to encourage blood clotting, reduce blood loss, and improve results in emergency trauma situations.

Haemostatic Granules

Granules can be quickly and easily applied directly to deep penetrating wounds

Available with or without an applicator, granules can be quickly and easily applied directly to deep penetrating wounds, such as stab injuries to encourage blood clotting and minimise blood loss if a tourniquet cannot be used.

Gauze

For packing deep wounds to stem blood flow and reduce blood loss

Supplied in Z folded lengths of up to 3m – for injuries where a tourniquet cannot be used, gauze is used to ‘pack’ wounds before applying pressure to stem blood flow and reduce blood loss. Available with or without added haemostatic agents.

Chest Seals

Offer an efficient way to protect the chest cavity

Designed specifically for shielding the chest cavity from respiratory hazards caused by deep puncture wounds. Air entering the chest cavity through a wound can severely impair breathing if the chest has been deeply punctured. Chest seals offer a rapid and efficient way to protect the chest cavity in such instances.

Why Should I Enhance My First Aid Provisions?

Basic first aid provision is a legal requirement and is common among organisations. However, enhanced first aid provision and preparedness is also strongly recommended by several official bodies in everyday settings:

Public premises and events

Public premises and events are strongly encouraged by ProtectUK and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) to provide Public Access Trauma (PaCT) kits. Furthermore, 'Martyn’s Law' is a draft bill being pursued by government, which would mandate any public premises or event with a capacity of over 100 to consider the risks arising from a terrorist attack and have plans in place to mitigate physical harm in the event of one occurring.

Workplaces or sites with any hazards

Workplaces or sites with any hazards such as machinery, sharp or moving objects which have potential to cause critical injuries such as major bleeding must have 'adequate and appropriate’ first aid for any risks present. Alongside other health and safety measures, this may be achieved by adding bleed control products to existing first aid provisions, or adding Workplace Critical Injury Packs compliant to BS8599-1.

Whether the risk being considered is a terrorist/public attack or a serious accident on site – major bleed injuries are often a fatal consequence. However, they can be treated with readily available and affordable equipment, which can be used with minimal or no training. The sooner a person with life threatening injuries receives appropriate first aid and treatment, the greater their chances of survival.

Basic first aid provisions such as an HSE or BS8599-1 compliant first aid kit do not have any items to treat major bleeding, yet thousands of UK workplaces and sites will have machinery or equipment which could cause a critical injury in the event of an accident or malfunction.

Many workplaces, organisations, public premises and events provide defibrillators which save hundreds of lives every year. Trauma and Bleed Control provisions are significantly more affordable, easier to implement and could save multiple lives in the event of a mass casualty situation.

There have been 14 terror attacks in the UK since the start of 2017. Furthermore, the UK's Intelligence Services and Counter Terrorism Policing have disrupted 39 late-stage terror attacks and are investigating 800 live cases annually.

Subsequently, the threat level facing the UK is currently set at 'substantial', meaning an attack is likely.

What Should I Consider When Enhancing First Aid Provisions?

The Health and Safety Executive state “First aid provision must be 'adequate and appropriate in the circumstances'. This means that you must provide sufficient first aid equipment (first aid kit), facilities and personnel at all times”.

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First aid supplies should be placed in locations that are accessible to the public and usable by individuals, irrespective of their training background.

As part of their counter terrorism awareness guidance, ProtectUK and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) recommend that first aid provisions ‘should support the administrating of immediate, lifesaving first aid’.

The provisions should be ‘well advertised across the premises’ and be clearly signposted, ensuring all staff, visitors and guests are made aware of them for ease of identification in an emergency. Consider the use of signage to assist with ensuring provisions can be quickly found, with regular reminders and information on the nearest provisions as necessary.

Is your first aid kit adequate?

ProtectUK recommend that "organisations should undertake an assessment to determine if the current first aid kit, such as workplace first aid kits, are adequate for the treatment of immediate life-threatening injuries". Additionally, the Health and Safety Executive state that risk assessments must "consider the circumstances of your workplace, workforce and the hazards and risks that may be present."

It is recommended that consideration should be given to:

do they support the treatment of those with major bleeding?
do they support those who are not breathing as a result of unconsciousness or an obstructed airway, typically after a head injury or cardiac arrest?
are they able to help more than one injured person?

Additional supplies to supplement basic first aid provision may include:

Public Access Trauma Kits (PAcT)
Products or Kits to treat major bleeding, such as Tourniquets, Trauma/Pressure Dressings, Wound Packing, Haemostatic Dressings and Granules
Casualty Stretchers and Evacuation Products
Resuscitation Products such as guedal airways
Defibrillators
Additional items to treat and manage shock

Why Should Organisations Ensure Adequate First Aid Preparedness For Mass Casualty Events?

Protect UK strongly encourage public and private sector organisations to 'enhance first aid preparedness and response planning, so it takes into account the likely injuries which can be the result of a malicious event, such as a terrorist attack'.

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It is common for organisations to have a basic level of first aid preparedness not only to comply with legal requirements, but also as a means to enhance the first aid resilience of their workforce. This effort is aimed at safeguarding the welfare of employees, visitors, and anyone in the vicinity of a business premises by offering humanitarian assistance to those in need.

By enhancing their level of first aid provisions, an organisation contributes to strengthening their own and the general population's ability to perform life-saving first aid effectively, which will undoubtedly increase the survival chances of individuals with life-threatening injuries.

Furthermore, the Draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as Martyn’s Law, will require those responsible for publicly accessible premises with capacities over 100 to take steps to reduce the threat to the public from terrorist attacks, through assessing risks and having appropriate measures in place to mitigate physical harm.

Under current proposals, an inspection regime will be put in place with full powers of entry into any qualifying location. Regulators will have a range of sanctions to address non-compliance with the proposed law, and will be able to impose penalties, including restriction notices or fines of up to £18m or 5% of worldwide revenue.

Having first aid provisions to treat critical injuries readily to hand and clearly signposted is a reasonably practicable and effective step for organisations to take as part of these plans.

How Can Organisations Ensure Adequate First Aid Preparedness For Terror Attacks?

Remember:

The arrival of emergency services might be delayed due to potential dangers, which could affect their ability to respond quickly
The initial need for first aid can significantly strain emergency services and the broader healthcare system, especially when multiple injuries occur over a large area
Although the severe nature of injuries in a terrorist attack might be similar to those in other emergencies, the additional threat from the attackers necessitates more comprehensive planning for first aid
There should also be an assumption that there will be more than one casualty

A terrorist incident introduces unique difficulties that might not be apparent in other situations, potentially causing life-endangering injuries to people. Recent incidents of terrorism in the UK have shown that bystanders in the vicinity of such attacks are eager to assist, including by administering first aid to the injured – often resorting to makeshift solutions in the absence of readily available supplies to treat critical injuries.

There is no need to resort to having to use such solutions (such as using ties, scarves and belts for tourniquets) if risks are properly assessed and the right provisions are made available in the right way.

Having first aid provisions to treat major bleed injuries readily to hand and clearly signposted is a reasonably practicable and effective step for organisations to take in order to mitigate physical harm in the event of an emergency.

Protect UK recommend that individuals caught in an attack who are both willing and capable of providing first aid should be allowed to do so. Nonetheless, ensuring their safety is crucial to enable them to offer first aid in a manner that is both safe and effective.

To assist organisations on their counter terrorism first aid preparedness and response, ProtectUK and NaCTSO offer guidance prioritising four key areas: