What Is a Mass Casualty Emergency?
A mass casualty emergency occurs when there are more injured individuals than immediately available medical resources can manage. This may result from accidents, structural incidents, severe weather events, active threats, or other large-scale emergencies.
Mass casualty and bleed control kits are one type of operational emergency kit used by schools, workplaces, and facilities to provide immediate trauma care supplies until professional responders arrive.
Why Mass Casualty and Bleed Control Kits Are Important
In a serious emergency, the first few minutes are critical. Having accessible trauma supplies on site allows trained staff to control severe bleeding, provide basic first aid, and assist multiple injured individuals at the same time.
These kits are designed to include larger quantities of:
- Tourniquets and pressure bandages
- Bleeding control and wound care supplies
- Gloves and protective items
- Triage and patient tracking materials
- Basic first aid and medical support items
They are intended for situations where standard first aid kits are not sufficient.
Designed for Large Occupant Loads and Public Facilities
These kits are commonly placed in:
- Schools and school districts
- Corporate workplaces and office buildings
- Warehouses and manufacturing facilities
- Healthcare and government buildings
- Event venues and large campuses
They are often mounted as bleed control stations or stored in accessible locations for rapid deployment.
Supports Bleed Control Programs and Emergency Action Plans
Mass casualty kits support programs and procedures such as:
- Stop the Bleed® initiatives
- OSHA Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
- School and workplace emergency response plans
- Incident Command System (ICS) triage and accountability practices
They help translate emergency planning into practical medical response during a real incident.
When to Use a Mass Casualty or Bleed Control Kit
These kits are used during any emergency involving multiple injuries where immediate access to trauma and bleeding control supplies is necessary before first responders can take over care.
