celox and other blood clotting

Does a civilian FAK need blood clotting gauze/ powder/ sponge?

Hi,
I dont think I've seen one of those in the 2-3 kits I've looked inside

I don't think they are really all that critical. My experience (something like 200 SAR events where serious bleeding was involved) is that direct pressure works just fine. I think we used pressure points a time or two. One of these events involved a virtual arm amputation. For that matter, I don't think we even applied a tourniquet.

Due to the inevitable lag in response time, I believe there were instances where the victim had bled out by the time aid reached the scene.

I don't stock celox or equivalent in my kits. It would perhaps be different if treating in a combat situation.

I have used it perhaps half a dozen times. It's convenient, fast and effective but usually more of a convenience than a necessity.

When I've been involved in delivery of 1st Aid training, it gets mentioned but not as something that is necessary to have. With that said, several prepackaged kits contain it and it is a good idea to know about it.

Some good info from the web:
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(16)30287-3/fulltext
https://www.realfirstaid.co.uk/haemostatics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4869418/

If you do have it and use it - it's good advice to be sure to keep the packaging with the patient so those providing advanced care know what has been used. Also there are cautions with it as there are some situations where it should not be used.

Getting the basic training and having good old fashioned dressings and bandage material to use with direct pressure and in extremums a tourniquet (that you know how to use) should be the key gear to have for most situations. YMMV and everyone should tailor to their own needs, conditions and experience.

I carry Celox but it is because I have to take a blood thinner due to heart issues. Celox is a fairly inexpensive insurance; $15.95 for 5 packets (on Amazon). That is $3.19 per packet.

If you use a clotting agent, you really need to let any paramedics/first reponders/doctors know.

I am also on a blood thinner. So far, no major hemorraghing but direct pressure has been quite effective in the incidents I have experienced.

My physician has not suggested that I carry coagulants and he is rather conscientious and painstaking.

It's worth saying that I'm not an expert in medical matters, but I'm repeating what the experts have told me.

For non-life-threatening injuries, I view hemostatic agents as a convenience, not a necessity.

For potentially life-threatening injuries, the sponge is next to useless. The powder/granules can work but hard to use correctly. The gauze is where it's at, as you can pack a wound with it to get the benefit of the hemostatic agent and pressure.

Required? No. Recommended? Yes.

With modern hemostatic impregnated gauze there is pretty much no negatives to their use. The benefit: anything we can do to keep as much blood inside the body is a good thing. Hemostatics can be an important adjunct towards that goal in some circumstances. Especially when solo or short handed, hemostatics are time-savers in circumstances where seconds matter.

If you spend a lot of time solo in the back-country, or you are exposed to high-risk activities; you should consider carrying hemostatics in your IFAK.

More important than hemostatic gauze is the knowhow to pack the wound to stop the bleed. If you are skilled with plain gauze (purpose-made or improvised) then hemostatic gauze is a nice extra tool to have, especially Celox for those on blood thinners. If I'm managing a bad bleed and I have hemostatic gauze, it goes in first. If that roll pack doesn't fill the void, then plain gauze goes in on top of the hemostatic. Pack it precisely at the bleed site, then pack tightly north/south/east/west into the void. Hold direct pressure if the situation allows, then place a pressure bandage or ACE wrap on the gauze pack.

An 18-D instructor told me he actually prefers plain gauze and ACE wraps over fancy hemostatics and Israeli bandages. But I really like Israeli bandages since they are so versatile for the weight.

If you have the presence of mind, tying a tight little knot at the beginning of the gauze strip creates a 'power ball' which you put directly at the bleed, and the pack job puts pressure on the power ball.

The 'Stop the Bleed' education campaign is a surprisngly good curriculum. It is a miracle that we are now actively teaching laypersons to use tourniquets and wound packing. Find a class, they're widespread and inexpensive.