Obama team promotes emergency lessons for bystanders

The Obama administration unveiled a plan Tuesday to help people learn what they can do to assist others who are injured and bleeding.

The "Stop The Bleed" campaign is designed to provide bystanders with treatment information supplied by professional first responders and military personnel.

"Providing bystanders with basic tools and information on the simple steps they can take in an emergency situation to stop life threatening bleeding can save lives," said an administration statement on the program.

The Department of Homeland Security is coordinating the project, which includes public education efforts.

On its "Stop The Bleed" website, the DHS says that "no matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss."

Suggestions include compression on the bleeding area, and applying a tourniquet two or three inches closer to the torso from the bleeding area, and then compressing again.

Bystanders are also encouraged to call 9-1-1.