Beyond Bandages: Workplace Trauma Stations and Stop the Bleed in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSHA require a specific active shooter medical kit?

No. OSHA does not publish one universal active shooter kit list, but employers should align medical response with 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1910.151 by providing adequate emergency planning, first-aid capability, and hazard-appropriate supplies.

What should be in an industrial trauma kit for severe bleeding?

The article recommends windlass tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, compressed pressure dressings, vented chest seals, gloves, and trauma shears. These items support catastrophic bleeding and penetrating-trauma response beyond a standard first-aid kit.

Where should workplace bleed-control kits be installed?

A strong practice is to co-locate them with AEDs and primary fire extinguisher stations, then add kits in remote or high-occupancy areas. Placement should match travel time, visibility, and your emergency action plan.

Can non-medical employees use tourniquets in an emergency?

Yes, when they are trained and acting in good faith during an emergency, employers commonly include tourniquet use in Stop the Bleed-style workplace response training. The key is to train employees before the event and make the equipment easy to access.

Why is training as important as the kit itself?

Because equipment alone does not create response capability. Workers need practice identifying life-threatening bleeding, applying a tourniquet, packing a wound, and fitting those actions into the site’s active threat and accountability plan.