Hemostais/Stop Ya From Bleeding to Death Products

[herbenus]

I can't answer for the "professional / quasi-professional rescue types". I'm not one of these. But I can tell you that if one of my boys is injured and bleeding I will administer this stuff. If I'm driving and come across a stranger bleeding to death, I'm not sure I would. First I'd call 911 and then make judgement on what aid I could give. Not being properly trained, I don't expect I would try too much. Having never been in situation, there's no guarantee how I'll react.

 

[tc35dforme]

I used to be an EMT, but let my license expire to help shield me from liability. I know it sounds strange, but as a lay-person, you can do more and get away with just about anything. As a "professional" you have a whole list of standards, proticols, and accountability measures to meet. Our state has a law that protects "good samaritans" , but doesn't do much for the "professionals". As a 'trained' layperson, I can certainly do what needs to be done, but can also play the dope when/if the problems occur ( when I'm not responding to a fire or rescue call ). Its probably a false sense of security, but it works for me.

Don't misunderstand...99.9% of the people you try to help will respond well ( liability wise ) so long as you don't do something absolutely out of bounds. Also, I'll help 99.9 % of the people...that's just my nature. I was just curious about how this clotting agent is viewed in the eyes of the licensing boards.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You all need to see a new product called Bleedex. It is made by a company called Medafor (www.medaforinc.com) and can be ordered directly from them. Bleedex is a powder that can be applied directly to the wound site along with a gauze pad and manual pressure. The way it works is that the powder is composed of microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (small sheres with holes in them) that absorb water from blood. As the water is absorbed the red blood cells and platelets form a strong, tenacious clot. The material is bio-inert (does not cause allergic reactions), is not made from a bovine blood source nor pooled human blood. It is painless to use- quick clot works with a burning action. A half gram of powder is under $10 and that will cover a square inch. I've used it on nosebleeds and it will stop a gusher in 30 seconds!
My neighbor is on blood thinners and says it's the greatest thing he has ever seen. The company also sells the same product to the EMTs under the Traumadex label and to hosptials under the Hemaderm label. They have some videos on the website that show how fast the product works- if you are squeemish about animal research don't look at it.

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

When I took my last Red Cross training, they basically told me the same thing. The "Good Samaritan" law will protect you. But they also taught to ask the victim for permission before doing anything. If the victim says "no", then you just wait until they're either unconscious, EMTs have arrived, or they have managed to leave under their own power.

If the victim is unconscious, RC said do what has to be done.

Steve

 

[dmccarty]

The 8/2004 issue of Police magazine has a review of the of blood clotters written by three doctors.

The article looks at the following products:

Biolife (Urgent QR) www.biolife.com
30 blister packs cost $1.70 to $2.00.

HemCon www.hemcon.com
One Package of five 4x4 inch bandages $495 with a six month shelf life. Some reports of high failure rates.

Marine Polymer Technologies (RDH Bandage) no url listed.
Two year shelf life. No price given.

Medafor (TraumaDEX) www.medafor.com
.5 gram package costs $7, 2 gram is $15, and 5 gram is $25 with a three to five year shelf life.

Z-Medica (QuickClot) www.z-medica.com
$21.99 per packet. This product creates heat as it clots the blood. Reports from Navy Corpsman in Iraq, stated that second burns in Iraqi soldiers treated with the product.

The review concluded that it was best for agencies to "proceed with caution" with the products until more information was available. Some products seem to work better than others. The Navy/Marine Corp found that direct pressure and tourniquets worked just fine. QuickClot should only be used for life threatening bleeding after conventional treatment had failed. There seems to be more info on QuickClot than the other products due to use in Iraq and FDA studies.

FYI.

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[Currmudgeon]

Brigade Quartermaster, a paramilitary supplier I've bought from, carries "Quick Clot"

http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/agcatalog/results.tam?rlk=771752

They also have a variety of first aid products designed for field use.

I always liked the old Army "Carlisle" First Aid Packet. This was just a fat gauze pad with attached tails, so you could tie it on over a wound. It fits in a small packet, is packed in a waterproof package, and is handy. I think they have better ones, now.

 

[Soundguy]

When I went to get some large ( 50 person ) first aid kits for work.. there were a few brands that had some of the new stiptic powders included.

Hope we never get to use them.. hope they work ok if we do use them.

Soundguy

 

[Egon]

Many a year ago we used to apply flour as a clotting agent on horses that had wire cuts.

Egon

 

[Soundguy]

I've got a couple 'horse' powders for that. One is a 'flowers of sulphur' compound.. the other is just blandly marked 'stiptic powder'.. prevents proud flesh... etc.

Soundguy