The Red Cross First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) program provides participants with the knowledge and skills to:
- Recognize & Respond to a life-threatening bleeding emergency.
- Ensure safety and communicate effectively in an emergency.
- Control life-threatening bleeding using direct pressure, a tourniquet, or both.
The program is designed to enhance participants’ ability to take decisive, lifesaving action to assist a person with a traumatic injury and life-threatening bleeding until professional responders arrive. Designed for use by participants during the course or as a resource after training, our First Aid for Severe Trauma Ready Reference offers concise, step-by-step instructions for responding to a life-threatening bleeding emergency.