Did you know that trauma is the fourth leading cause of death in America and bleeding is the #1 cause of preventable death following injury?

This, despite the fact that nearly anyone can control life threatening bleeding. All you need are your hands, and a little know-how.

In an emergency, get help. Call 911 or get another person to do so. Find the source of the bleeding and cover the wound with a cloth or an article of clothing and apply direct, steady, pressure with both hands until help arrives.

If the person is unconscious, lay them on their side with the wound up if possible.

Once the bleeding is under control, just make sure the injured person is breathing well and comfortable. If you can’t stop the bleeding with continuous direct pressure, you can apply a tourniquet.

Applying a tourniquet requires another person to help and should only be done as a last resort.

To learn more about additional hands-on training, visit the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care