Training surgeons to teach the public bleeding control techniques

Editor's Note

Training surgeons in bleeding control techniques so they can, in turn, teach the general public is an effective way to disseminate bleeding control knowledge and skills, finds this study.

Of 341 surgeons who were trained and surveyed at the 2016 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Congress, 93.79% agreed that teaching bleeding control techniques to the public should be an ACS priority, and 93.13% agreed the training session was developed at an appropriate level of difficulty for the public.

With increasing active shooter and intentional mass casualty events, plus everyday injuries, the public needs to be prepared to stop bleeding, the researchers note.

With increasing active shooter and intentional mass casualty events, as well as everyday injuries resulting in severe bleeding, there have been calls for the public to learn bleeding control techniques. The aims of this project were to offer bleeding control training to surgeons attending the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), to determine if the trained surgeons believe that teaching bleeding control to the public should be a priority of the ACS, and to assess the surgeon trainees' perceptions regarding the appropriateness of the course for a public audience.