Emergency Bandage Stops Bleeding in Minutes

A new bandage intended for both civilian and military emergency use can seal a severely bleeding external wound within one to five minutes. The bandage has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The bandage allows the wound to quickly form a strong adherent clot, enabling a patient to be transported, and offers rapid, strong adhesion to the injury site. It has been successfully used in carotid artery stab wounds, aortic perforations, and severe liver injuries. An untrained first responder, combat medic, or injured soldier can easily apply the bandage.

Made from chitosan, a shrimp-based product, the bandage was invented at the Oregon Medical Laser Center (OMLC, Portland, USA) with a research grant from the US Army Medical Research and Material Command. It is manufactured by HemCon, Inc. (Tigard, OR, USA; www.hemcon.com), which already has government contracts to supply more than 6,000 bandages. The HemCon bandage is available in an array of sizes and configurations.

"Trauma is the leading cause of death for persons aged one to 44,” said Jim Hensel, president and CEO of HemCon. "We believe that the HemCon Bandage will save the lives of a significant number of both combat soldiers and civilians in need of emergency medical care.”


Related Links:
Oregon Medical Laser Center
HemCon