Stop The Bleed - Save A Life

Exsanguination is the leading preventable cause of death in traumatic accidents. With the right knowledge and skills, bystanders, who are usually the first on the scene, can make a difference when every second matters. The national social initiative Stop the Bleed – Save a Life (SDBREL) teaches citizens how to act in the event of life-threatening blood loss. Visit our location to attend a workshop!

Life-Threatening Blood Loss
After all, severe blood loss can happen to anyone, anywhere. At home, at work, or on vacation. You may also encounter a victim suffering from severe blood loss. When this is the case, the chance of survival decreases with every minute. Therefore, quick and correct intervention can be lifesaving. Applying direct pressure is usually the first action, yet not always sufficient.

Curriculum
The SDBREL Basic Course offers everyone over the age of 16 the basic theory and skills to timely and temporarily stop severe blood loss.

The SDBREL Instructor Course offers anyone with affinity for first aid and education the knowledge and skills to teach the SDBREL Basic Course. The Instructor Course incorporates the latest knowledge and scientific literature on bleeding control. Instructors with a healthcare background and teaching experience deliver the SDBREL Instructor Course. Several training centers now offer this course.

Background
Studies of war victims have shown that early bleeding control saves lives. However, life-threatening blood loss is still the leading cause of preventable death in accidents not only in conflict zones but also in society as a whole. The increasing gun violence in America and the the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 prompted the American College of Surgeons to launch a national campaign called "Stop the Bleed." As a result, more than two million citizens have now been trained to respond to life-threatening blood loss. Since 2016, this initiative has also been introduced in the Netherlands thanks to trauma surgeon Dr. L. Geeraedts under the name: Stop De Bloeding – Red Een Leven (SDBREL).