BASIC FIRST AID INFORMATION
(PCARES is not certifying in First Aid, This is for information purposes only)
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Identify the Emergency
Call for Emergency Service 911
Check for Responsiveness
Open the Airway, Head tilt Chin Lift, Look to see if the airway is blocked
Position yourself to visualize the chest and Look Listen and feel
CPR 30 Compression to 2 Breaths
6. Repeat CPR until Rescue service arrive. or until there is signs of life.
7. If an AED is available apply it as soon as possible.
8. Check checking for signs of life. Stop after 2 rounds and reassess your patient
Step-by-Step Procedures
1. Direct Pressure (For any severe bleeding)
Action: Place a sterile gauze pad, clean cloth, or piece of clothing directly over the wound.
Technique: Push down hard with both hands (palms or fingers), locking your elbows and using your body weight to maintain firm, continuous pressure.
Rule: If blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it; add more layers on top and keep pressing down. Maintain pressure for at least 5 to 20 minutes until help arrives.
2. Wound Packing (For deep, gaping wounds in areas where a tourniquet cannot go, like the groin, armpits, or neck)
Action: Open the wound and pack it tightly with hemostatic or regular gauze (or clean cloth).
Technique: Push the material deep into the wound cavity until it is completely filled to put direct pressure on the bleeding vessel.
Next Step: Once tightly packed, apply firm direct pressure on top of the packed wound with your hands until bleeding stops or EMS takes over.
3. Tourniquet Application (For severe limb bleeding on arms or legs)
Action: Use a commercially manufactured windlass tourniquet if available.
Placement: Position the tourniquet 2 to 3 inches above the bleeding site on the bare skin (avoid placing it directly over a joint like the elbow or knee).
Tightening: Pull the strap tight and twist the windlass rod until the bright red bleeding stops.
Securing & Tracking: Lock the rod in place, secure the Velcro strap, and use a permanent marker to write the exact time of application on the patient or tourniquet. Do not loosen or remove the tourniquet once applied.
Start with the M.A.R.C.H. Mindset
A compact pouch should support the M.A.R.C.H. approach, a simple medical sequence you can remember under stress.
Massive hemorrhage: Stop life-threatening bleeding first using a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, or direct pressure.
Airway: Make sure the person can breathe. In a minimalist pouch, this is mostly positioning and awareness.
Respiration: Look for chest injuries and seal open chest wounds if you carry compact chest seals in a larger kit.
Circulation: After bleeding is controlled, reassess for other bleeding and signs of shock.
Hypothermia/Head injury: Prevent heat loss with a blanket or shielding; keep the person calm and still.
For a truly pocket-size pouch, your gear should focus on Massive hemorrhage, with a nod to Circulation and Hypothermia. Save airway and chest tools for larger kits you stash in a vehicle or range bag.
Pick a Proven Tourniquet and Stage It for One-Hand Use
Your tourniquet is the heart of a stop-the-bleed pouch. Choose a model with strong track records in law enforcement and military settings. CAT and SOFTT-W are two trusted options.
Selection: If you are unsure where to begin, start with a quality CAT. You can find a proven option here: tourniquet.
Staging: Pre-thread the buckle, size the loop large enough to slide over your thigh or arm, and secure the windlass strap so it deploys smoothly. Keep it outside the pouch or in an easy-to-grab pocket. Seconds matter.
Training tip: Practice one-hand application on both arms and your dominant-side leg. Time yourself to first turn of the windlass. Repetition builds speed and confidence.
If your role involves public safety or range supervision, consider carrying two tourniquets. Multiple limbs can be injured, and having a backup helps if one fails or is misplaced.
Hemostatic Gauze vs. Plain Gauze
Both can control bleeding. The difference is speed and efficiency.
Hemostatic gauze: Impregnated with agents that accelerate clotting. It shines for junctional wounds, like groin or armpit areas where tourniquets do not work. It also works well for deep lacerations. If it fits your budget, it is the top choice for a compact pouch. You can explore options here: hemostatic gauze.
Plain gauze: Lightweight, inexpensive, and versatile. You can pack a wound and hold pressure. S-fold or rolled formats feed smoothly into deep wounds, which reduces fumbling.
Technique beats brand. Pack firmly to the source of bleeding, add more gauze as needed, and maintain direct pressure for at least three minutes before reassessing. If bleeding soaks through, do not remove the packed material. Add more and keep pressing.
Add a Purpose-Built Pressure Dressing
A pressure dressing secures your packing and maintains pressure while you free your hands.
What to carry: A compact 4 or 6 inch pressure dressing with a built-in pressure bar is ideal. It is fast, intuitive, and flattens well in a pocket pouch. Browse solid choices here: pressure dressings.
Field tip: If you do not have a dedicated pressure bandage, improvise with additional gauze and firm wrap. The goal is steady, direct pressure that does not slip.
Gloves, Marker, and Tape
A few small items make care cleaner, safer, and more organized.
Nitrile gloves: They protect you and the patient, and they are easy to carry flat. Yes, nitrile gloves are safe for the vast majority of users and are a standard in healthcare for latex-free protection. If you have skin sensitivities, look for powder-free medical grade. Stock an extra pair in your pouch. Pick up compact options here: nitrile gloves.
Permanent marker: As soon as you place a tourniquet, write the time on the device or on the patient’s skin near it. Time helps EMS guide care.
Medical tape: A small roll or a folded strip secures dressings, labels items, or tacks down gauze tails. Cloth tape sticks well to skin and fabric.
Smart Staging for a Pocket Pouch
Aim for flat, quick-access packing.
Lay out items in use order: tourniquet on top, then hemostatic or plain gauze, pressure dressing, then gloves, tape, and marker.
Vacuum-seal or band items with tape tabs you can grab even with wet or gloved fingers.
Color-code: A bright pull tab on your tourniquet saves time in low light.
Practice Makes the Pouch Work
Skill turns small gear into big results.
Micro drills: Once a week, run a 2 minute drill. Don gloves, apply a tourniquet to an arm, pack a simulated wound in a towel, then apply a pressure dressing. Reset and repeat.
Stress inoculation: Practice with cold hands, in the dark with a headlamp, and from different carry positions. You will move faster when it counts.
Learn and refresh: Take a Stop the Bleed or bleeding control class, then refresh annually. We share training updates and tips for everyday responders. Join our list to get training dates and gear news first.
Turnkey Option vs. DIY
If you prefer to keep things simple, we build compact bleeding control kits that are staged and ready to deploy. If you love to DIY, you can assemble the components above and tailor the pouch to your environment. For a broader solution that covers everyday scrapes plus trauma, explore our curated first aid kits.
See trauma focused bundles and ready-to-carry options: first aid kits.
Want to add extra gauze to your pouch or vehicle kit: gauze.
Need to restock gloves without adding bulk: nitrile gloves.
SALT Mass Casualty Triage On-line Training T08 (Primary)
Submittal form Title: T08 SALT Mass Casualty Triage
http://register2.ndlsf.org/mod/page/view.php?id=2056 OR https://register3.ndlsf.org/mod/page/view.php?id=2056.
Certificate Required:: No Type: NDLSF
On line, one hour, free course.
SALT Triage is the product of a CDC Sponsored working group to propose a standardized triage method. The guideline, entitled SALT (sort, assess, life-saving interventions, treatment and/or transport) triage, was developed based on the best available science and consensus opinion. It incorporates aspects from all of the existing triage systems to create a single overarching guide for unifying the mass casualty triage process across the United States
PCARES FIRST AID KITS INVENTORIES
(BLS KIT, STOP THE BLEED KIT, PATROL FIRST AID, AED KIT)
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