Hemostatic powder/granules - are these any good for heavy bleeding? [1080x908 - 738KB]

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[–] • 1 pt

I'm a little late to your party here, but you know how I just love throwing my 2 cents around. Here is my EMT take on it.

I pretty much agree with what others have said but not entirely. The reason you don't see celox in most 1st aid kits is because it is expensive and it burns when you use it.

My advice, Get some. Get a few packages. That shit works great. Yea, there are other concerns with it but that is not your problem. Your goal is to stop the bleeding and get the patient to a higher level of care where they can fix the secondary problems.

Wound packing is great but only works on muscle tissue. You can't pack an abdominal or chest wound (I suppose a Pectoral wound could be packed but not if it goes into the chest cavity.) You also cannot use any type of hemostatic on abdominal wounds. The problem there is internal bleeding, even direct pressure does very little. The solution to that problem is Diesel Therapy. Get them to a trauma center ASAP.

Hemostatic agents also don't work well on Arterial bleeding. If the blood is Spurting out bright red blood and lots of it, put on a Tourniquet. Just do it, if they get to the hospital within about 4 hours there won't be lasting tissue damage and they will still be alive. If the blood is more oozing or just running out then it is probably a veinous bleed and direct pressure will usually work, but in an emergency situation where you don't have time to sit around for 5 or 10 minutes holding pressure you just open up the wound, dump a pack of celox in there and close that shit up and wrap it tight. Don't worry about wound cleaning or shit like that. Stopping bleeding is the very most important part of the equation.

You're right about not removing impaling objects. If it's in, leave it in. (knives, bullets, rebar, pens and pencils) If it's out, leave it out. (guts, eyeballs, brain matter, bones)

Israeli bandages are great, Cat-T tourniquets are great. Swat T sucks.

Oh yea, and get a SAM splint.

As far as chest seals go, I like the vented. When air builds up in the chest it will take up room that the lungs need to expand into. With a vented seal you can let that pressure out and it allows the lungs to expand and makes breathing a whole bunch easier.

You should also put Naloxone and EPI in your kit.

Anyway, I'm sure I've only scratched the surface but that's what I've got for now, I'm late for work. lol

I'm a little late to your party here, but you know how I just love throwing my 2 cents around. Here is my EMT take on it. I pretty much agree with what others have said but not entirely. The reason you don't see celox in most 1st aid kits is because it is expensive and it burns when you use it. My advice, Get some. Get a few packages. That shit works great. Yea, there are other concerns with it but that is not your problem. Your goal is to stop the bleeding and get the patient to a higher level of care where they can fix the secondary problems. Wound packing is great but only works on muscle tissue. You can't pack an abdominal or chest wound (I suppose a Pectoral wound could be packed but not if it goes into the chest cavity.) You also cannot use any type of hemostatic on abdominal wounds. The problem there is internal bleeding, even direct pressure does very little. The solution to that problem is Diesel Therapy. Get them to a trauma center ASAP. Hemostatic agents also don't work well on Arterial bleeding. If the blood is Spurting out bright red blood and lots of it, put on a Tourniquet. Just do it, if they get to the hospital within about 4 hours there won't be lasting tissue damage and they will still be alive. If the blood is more oozing or just running out then it is probably a veinous bleed and direct pressure will usually work, but in an emergency situation where you don't have time to sit around for 5 or 10 minutes holding pressure you just open up the wound, dump a pack of celox in there and close that shit up and wrap it tight. Don't worry about wound cleaning or shit like that. Stopping bleeding is the very most important part of the equation. You're right about not removing impaling objects. If it's in, leave it in. (knives, bullets, rebar, pens and pencils) If it's out, leave it out. (guts, eyeballs, brain matter, bones) Israeli bandages are great, Cat-T tourniquets are great. Swat T sucks. Oh yea, and get a SAM splint. As far as chest seals go, I like the vented. When air builds up in the chest it will take up room that the lungs need to expand into. With a vented seal you can let that pressure out and it allows the lungs to expand and makes breathing a whole bunch easier. You should also put Naloxone and EPI in your kit. Anyway, I'm sure I've only scratched the surface but that's what I've got for now, I'm late for work. lol

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[–] • 1 pt

Thanks for taking time to share all that info. Getting them into the emergency room ASAP is definitely major part of the plan. I might end up getting some Celox just to keep it handy in case of veinous bleed that could get out of control, but I will likely avoid using it on abdomen in case of deep wounds.

How badly does it burn? Asking for a friend. That I will use it on in case he gets a minor cut,

I have most other stuff you mentioned, but you basically need to have EMT training if you want to be able to get your hands on Naloxone and EPI pen without prescription where I am.

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[–] • 1 pt

It burns, I don't think it's that bad but others have told me it was worse than they expected. It's good stuff for heavy veinous bleeding for sure but for minor cuts direct pressure usually does the trick. Do not use is on abdominal wounds that go all the way through the skin. You don't want that shit in the abdominal cavity. Super glue is also handy in your kit. I have put together plenty of cuts with that shit (also not good for abdominal wounds). Naloxone should be handed out for free, fucking junkies everywhere and even innocent people coming into contact with nasty shit inadvertently.

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