Catastrophic Bleeds
Severe bleeding from an artery, often life-threatening, that can lead to death within minutes if not controlled. Usually due to trauma or injury that punctures or severs an artery.
The blood often spurts or pumps in rhythm with the heartbeat and is typically bright red due to high oxygen content.
1. Apply Pressure
The first rule of bleed management is to apply direct pressure to the wound.
Use your hand, fingers, or even your knee if necessary to press firmly on the wound.
Arterial bleeding comes from an artery smaller than a finger, so focus directly on the source.
Press hard and steadily—arterial blood is under high pressure, so significant force is needed to slow or stop the flow.
Always wear gloves if possible to protect yourself.
2. Get Help
Call 999 immediately if you are alone.
If someone else is with you, they can monitor the victim’s airway and breathing while you focus on controlling the bleeding.
3. Improvise if Necessary
If proper medical equipment isn’t available, use anything absorbent—such as cloth, clothing, or bandages—to pack the wound and maintain pressure.
4. Maintain Pressure
Continue to apply pressure until professional medical help arrives and takes over the situation.
Do not remove pressure to check the wound repeatedly, as this can worsen bleeding.
Bleed Kits
If there is more than 1 person to treat the casualty, the ambulance control may direct the other individual to collect a bleed kit if there is one located near by.
What is a bleed kit?
A bleed kit is a highly visible, compact grab bag that is small enough to store securely but can be quickly and easily located in an emergency. These bags are specialised trauma kits designed to provide bystanders with the essential supplies needed to control life-threatening bleeding until paramedics or professional medical help arrive.
Bleed kits are ideal for:
- Schools
- Offices
- Entertainment centres
- Sporting venues
- Manufacturing industries
- Or anywhere else
The contents of a bleed kit.
What’s included?
- MERE Responder Pouch Pro
- Trauma Fix Dressing 10X18cm
- CAT Tourniquet
- CELOX RAPID Gauze
- CELOX Fox Vented Chest Seal
- Trauma Fix Dressing 15X18cm
- Tough cut scissors
- Examination Gloves
- MERE Foil Blanket
- First-Aid Guidance leaflet
- Permanent Marker Pen
- High Power Light Stick
- Bleed Control Aid-Memoire
Purchase:
In collaboration with Mere Supplies, The Joe Dix Foundation is able to provide bleed kits that can be purchased and located where you like. Educational establishments that book presentations will be provided wi
n collaboration with Mere Supplies, The Joe Dix Foundation is able to provide bleed kits that can be purchased and placed wherever they are needed. Educational establishments that book presentations with the Foundation will also be provided with a bleed kit as part of their session.
Locations:
All the foundations bleed kits located in publicly accessible areas are registered on the app GoodSam. Who notify the appropriate ambulance controls. In the event of an emergency, the call handler can direct the caller to the nearest bleed kit, if one is available nearby.
Shops and premises that hold a Joe Dix Foundation bleed kit will display a sticker in their window to indicate its presence.