By Sam Puldeski, American Red Cross volunteer

Did you know that someone with a serious injury can experience life-threatening blood loss within as little as five minutes? When someone is injured and severely bleeding, it is imperative that bystanders help to quickly stop the blood loss.

The American Red Cross has some tips and information to follow if someone around you is experiencing a life-threatening loss of blood.

• A half can of soda is the approximate amount of blood loss that is life
  threatening in an adult. For children and infants, the amount is
  proportionately less.
• If blood is flowing continuously, squirting or pooling, take action
  immediately with these steps.
  a. Call 911.
  b. Ask someone to find a bleeding control kit, which should include
  items like gloves, gauze and a tourniquet.
  c. Apply the tourniquet and wait for the medical professionals to arrive.
  – If the injury is in on the head or torso, apply direct pressure
  with your hands or knee using gloves if they are available.
• If you don’t have a medical tourniquet on hand, apply direct pressure with
  your hands or knee. Research has shown that homemade or improvised
  tourniquets don’t work. It is recommended to use manufactured tourniquets
  over homemade options.

It’s important for everyone to know how to respond in these types of emergencies should they ever be in a situation when someone needs help. The Red Cross offers classes to help teach people of all ages how to respond in an emergency. Some classes offer online instruction while other classes can be found at a location near you.

• First Aid for Severe Blooding Online Course
• First Aid Training
• AED Training
• CPR Training
• Babysitting Training

You can sign up for a class (or two!) by visiting: https://www.redcross.org/local/ohio/take-a-class.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer