Mar 5 2008 9:31AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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It has saved lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now it’s coming to a building site near you.

Although we here at the Building Group wish nothing but safe work days for everyone on the job site, we know that it’s inevitable that someone will hurt themselves badly. With that in mind, I decided to post a little something on the remarkable KytoStat Bandage.

Used by the U.S. Army, the KytoStat bandage stops bleeding while sealing and protecting the wound. The 1”x4” bandage uses chitosan, which is a compound that occurs naturally in shrimp shells (note: although it is not technically consumed, the product isn’t considered Kosher). The process used to create the bandage, according to parent company HemCon, is 30 times more effective than its competitor’s products. 





To see a video, click here (requires Flash): http://www.hemcon.com/flash/sales/console.html

But what does the chitosan do? Because it has a positive charge, it attracts negatively-charged red blood cells. The red blood cells are drawn into the dressing, which creates a seal over the wound and forms a bond after 2-5 minutes of steady pressure is applied. It is particularly effective when used on patients who take blood-thinning medications.

Instructions:

1. Remove from bandage from pouch.

2. Apply bandage to a bleeding wound. The white pad must be in contact with the wound for it to adhere.

3. Apply direct pressure until the white bandage pad sticks directly to the wound and bleeding is controlled (about 2-5 minutes).

4. Keep the bandage dry.

5. Gently remove it by soaking it well with water or saline.

For those with shellfish allergies, the company has this to say in the FAQ Section:

“There have been no known allergic reactions as a result of using the HemCon Bandage since distribution began in 2003 and there have been no adverse effects reported in over 1,000,000 bandages shipped.

HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. has results from a shellfish allergy study conducted by its chitosan supplier which demonstrates that, out of 221 individuals with suspected hypersensitivity, including 8 individuals with known shellfish allergies, none demonstrated any dermal sensitivity when pricked with a chitosan test solution. However, since chitosan is extracted from the shells of shrimp and other shellfish, individuals with known shellfish allergies should exercise caution in the use of products containing chitosan.”