The most recent statistics published in December 2024, for reported assaults involving a knife or sharp instrument in London is 14,577.
This represents a 20% increase from the preceding year, resulting in the tragic loss of112 lives.
Catastrophic bleeding is a prevalent consequence of knife crime, but it can occur from DIY injuries, kitchen accidents and work place incidents in high risk envioroments.
Life threatening bleeds require immediate first aid intervention. It is not enough just to call 999/112, as a person can succumb to bleeding within minutes.
Those first few minutes where action is taken, can save someone’s life.
Martyn’s Law https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/13/martyns-law-factsheet which received Royal Assent in April 2025, aims to reduce risk to the public at publicly accessible venues including, sporting events, places of worship, retail & entertainment centres, restaurants, hotels, educational establishments and others. Venues who can host more than 200 people, will be subject to this law and will need to have measures and take steps to mitigate the threat of a terrorism/major incident should it take place at their venue or it’s immediate vicinity.
As a consequence, staff will need to be trained in how to react, should such an incident take place. First Aid including life threatening bleeding control will be an important factor to consider. Ten Second Triage (TST) is a new primary scene triage tool to be used by all first responders to any incident where there are multiple casualties. TST will allow first responders to decide who to treat first and what measures to take. TST is applicable to any incident when there are more casualties than first aiders.
Attending a Catastrophic Bleeds course you will learn the following:
How to to recognise a catastrophic/life threatening bleed
Why bleeding takes priority over airway & CPR management in the Primary Survey
How to deal with the bleed by direct pressure
or How to deal with the bleed by indirect pressure (Tourniquet)
or How to deal with the bleed by wound packing (Haemostatic Dressings)
You will also learn how to deal with penetrating chest or abdominal wounds
Why it is important to conduct a fast, skin level, all round check of the casualty
Recognise the signs & symptoms and deal with Hemorrhagic Shock
Why it is important to keep the casualty warm
How to hand over your casualty on the arrival of the emergency services
Principles of ‘Ten Second Triage’
