Posted on 02/05/2014 2:39:07 PM PST by Altariel
When a soldier is shot on the battlefield, the emergency treatment can seem as brutal as the injury itself. A medic must pack gauze directly into the wound cavity, sometimes as deep as 5 inches into the body, to stop bleeding from an artery. It’s an agonizing process that doesn't always work--if bleeding hasn't stopped after three minutes of applying direct pressure, the medic must pull out all the gauze and start over again. It’s so painful, “you take the guy’s gun away first,” says former U.S. Army Special Operations medic John Steinbaugh.
Even with this emergency treatment, many soldiers still bleed to death; hemorrhage is a leading cause of death on the battlefield. "Gauze bandages just don't work for anything serious," says Steinbaugh, who tended to injured soldiers during more than a dozen deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. When Steinbaugh retired in April 2012 after a head injury, he joined an Oregon-based startup called RevMedx, a small group of veterans, scientists, and engineers who were working on a better way to stop bleeding.
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
Wow!
As horrible as war is, there have been so many medical advances that have resulted from the study of the treatment needs of the injured.
I remember my microbiology professor’s comments regarding the high number of deaths in the Civil War that had resulted from bacterial infection on the battlefield.
My late mother, who was born in 1912, told me of her remembrances of the flu epidemic. Schools were closed all over Philadelphia, and she had to wait an extra year to begin first grade.
I think I will plunk down the extra money for hemostatic gauze.
Stuff is really expensive $99 and up for 20 sheets 2”square. And if you’re being a good Samaritan at an accident, don’t expect to be reimbursed.
One of the state Army Guard units is packed with SF qualified medics and they do road shows for first responders. Their attitude towards massive limb bleeding was tourniquet at upper part if the limb regardless of wound location. Pack major bleeds at the hips, groin, shoulders and armpit with hemostatic gauze, then pack and wrap the wound. Seal lung wounds and watch for indications of tension pneumothorax, needle decompression if required.
Pretty awesome class taught by guys that had treated actual wounded soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Chicagostan EMS needs to order 50 cases. STAT
Isn’t that the way Armalite lost the production of the M16 to Colt?
Thanks. I have a pretty intensive first aid kit in my car mainly for me. I carry a similar one when I hike. I remember reading where this good Samaritan helped an injured person and when the guy asked to be reimbursed for the supplies he used the person got incensed and asked how dare he want compensation for the materials he used. No good deed goes unpunished.
Old cowboy method: Put a stick between your teeth and slap hot iron on the wound!
This is so cool. I love hearing about the invention process. These guys are inspiring.
Yep, this is definitely an invention to watch.
Thanks
Thank you for the ping on this life saving invention.
Your mother and mine were the same age. My mother’s beloved brother died in that epidemic. I think she never quite got over it.
My mother was born in Philadelphia. Where was yours born?
She has been gone for nearly 7 years — May 1, 2007. I sure do miss her.
St. Louis. She and my father died 20 years ago.
My condolences on your loss.
I use Celox, brand used on the battlefield. Stops bleeding (except for arterial bleed) almost instantly.
People who take blood thinners should have this on hand to stop bleeding. A man friend of mine lives outside Bandera, Texas, on a high hill. Would take a long time for the volunteer ambulance to get there and I had him buy Celox in case of cutting himself as he bleeds profusely since he takes a blood thinner. Celox is on Amazon (Amazon is my second home).
“I think I will plunk down the extra money for hemostatic gauze.”
Celox gauze pads are more expensive than packets of Celox liquid and the liquid will stop blood faster than the gauze pads. However, if you are in the boon docks hunting deer or whatever, the pads are more convenient. If I was a hunter, I would have gauze for that, plus the individual packets at the house.
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