The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) wishes to be recorded in support
House bill 490, An Act Providing for Bleeding Control Training as Part of
the Health Education Curriculum.
The MMS is a professional association of over 25,000 physicians and medical students and works in support of public health and emergency preparedness. As a part of the MMS’ commitment to reduce or eliminate preventable death from bleeding, MMS has launched a demonstration project to provide hands-on regional instruction for physicians and other health professionals in bleeding control, wound packing, and tourniquet application in order to increase the number of individuals trained in bleeding control in the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Medical Society has offered bleeding control training to its employees, and is currently updating its first aid kits to include tourniquet devices.
The MMS is committed to collaborating with appropriate partners to promote the training of physicians, first-responders, and the lay public in severe hemorrhage control (including the proper use of tourniquets) to reduce or eliminate preventable death from bleeding. House bill 490 will ensure that Massachusetts students are trained in bleeding control through a curriculum developed by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Public Health. Instructional materials used in schools will be developed or endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, or the Department of Public Health, ensuring access to high quality, effective resources.
Massive bleeding from any cause, but particularly from an active shooter, explosive event or an accident can result in death. After a traumatic accident or injury, it can take as little as five minutes for someone to bleed to death. If bystanders know how to respond, a victim’s odds of survival are much higher. Just as the general public learns and performs CPR, individuals can learn proper bleeding control techniques, including how to use pack a wound and use tourniquets. By educating students in bleeding control, we can cultivate a grassroots effort that encourages and empowers bystanders to manage bleeding in an emergency situation until help from first responders arrives, thus saving lives. For these reasons, the Massachusetts Medical Society supports House bill 490.
