News Release

For Immediate Release – May 3, 2023

National Stop the Bleed Day: MRDC Event Empowers Local Community with Lifesaving Knowledge

FORT DETRICK, Md. – Knowing the steps to take during a traumatic event could mean the difference between life and death. In the U.S. alone, more than 180,000 people die each year from traumatic injuries sustained as a result of trauma from vehicle crashes, falls and industrial and farm accidents. On May 25, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command will host its third annual National Stop the Bleed Day training event to teach the skills needed to respond, and potentially save a life, during a traumatic event.

"Now, more than ever, it is important that individuals have the tools needed to react during a traumatic event," said Brig. Gen. Tony McQueen, Commanding General of USAMRDC and Fort Detrick. "National Stop the Bleed Day and the Stop the Bleed program is a way for us to share lifesaving skills, initial response techniques collected from decades of trauma care and battlefield research. Our goal is to teach these skills, in a hands-on way, so that everyday individuals feel empowered to step in and help should they ever find themselves in a trauma situation."

During the event, medical experts will teach hands-on skills including wound pressure, wound packing and proper tourniquet use. Attendees will have an opportunity to practice these skills on mannequins and will receive a certificate of completion following the event.

USAMRDC has played a significant role in the Stop the Bleed program since 2015. Stop the Bleed was initially developed by the command's Combat Casualty Care Research Program, in cooperation with the National Security Council following the wake of mass trauma events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and the Boston Marathon in 2013.

For media interested in attending the event, please email danae.n.johnson.civ@health.mil.

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About Army Futures Command:
Army Futures Command (AFC) leads the persistent modernization of the Army in order to provide future warfighters with the concepts, capabilities, and organizational designs needed to dominate a future battlefield. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, AFC has more than 26,000 people worldwide. The Army's six modernization priorities are the focus of our eight Cross Functional Teams: Long Range Precision Fires; Next Generation Combat Vehicle; Future Vertical Lift; Army Network; Air and Missile Defense; Soldier Lethality; Assured Positioning Navigation Timing; and Synthetic Training Environment. The Artificial Intelligence Task Force and Army Applications Lab also support our efforts. Collaborating with entrepreneurs, scientists, industry, and academia, AFC strives to create the best solutions to keep Soldiers safe and America strong. For more information, visit: www.army.mil/futures.

About USAMRDC:
USAMRDC is the Army's medical materiel developer, with responsibility for medical research, development and acquisition in a variety of areas integral to Soldier health and resiliency. For more information, visit: https://mrdc.health.mil.