Quikclot

DH1

DH1

Joined
Nov 8, 2006
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I received a Quikclot "kit" from Knifeworks today and was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this stuff. It's not really a peice of kit you can "test" before you put it in your pack..

The kit contains a small Quikclot sponge (25g) gauze, gloves, cloth bandage, etc..all in a ziplock type bag. Also instructions which I'll read later tonight.
 
I'd definitely like to hear experiences as well, I was thinking of adding some to my first aid kit.

I heard the old powder version you pour into the wound burns like hell.
 
That stuff is awesome! They make it in several different forms now so you have your choice of which to use. Quikclot does have some really good vids on their website showing the proper way to apply the gauze, how to pack it correctly. They are used on live hogs under sedation in the videos where they inflict arterial wounds and show the medics packing the wound. It really is amazing how great it works! This stuff is carried by all Marines in their blowout kits and has been saving lives over there since we went to war.
 
When I was CHL'ng in TX, I carried 2; never had to use them. I still carry a couple on me; could come in handy.
 
This is the stuff made from crushed shrimp shells right? Guess I might need to be leery of it since I'm allergic to shellfish. Though I guess in a life or death situation I'd take it and then hope they had some epinephrine LOL.
 
i have some. never used the stuff hopefully never will (knock on wood.) you can test it. just get an animal, your neighbors dog will do, use your fancy rat knife, cut him/her, test quickclot. oh ya you will need a control. get the other neighbors dog (the one you dont like) repeat the process minus the quickclot. :D

there is a video on the webs of the quickclot company cutting the femoral artery of a pig, quickclotting and sewing it back together again.



hey Vermilion i dont know about the ground up shells. but what about cayenne pepper? i have heard that it helps greatly with clotting.
 
Not to be the one who bashes a good thing but from what I remember hearing it was becoming a real problem because the chemical you pour in chemically burns the area aroun the wound an can damage the wound and melt the gauze or bandage to the skin and it gets really difficult for surgeons to remove to fix the wound.

Of course I could totally be wrong if anyone knows what I'm talking about it and has more info on it. But from what I remember hearing the army was starting to ditch it because it was having bad reports from the field.
 
In my experience, QuikClot works. I've seen it used on everything from an arterial wound, to a stubborn scalp laceration or a cut on a person taking blood thinners. The new version is a guaze impregnated with the clotting agent which makes it easier to use and less likely to blow around like the old powder.

What others are saying about a heat issue is pertaining to the old powder version. The power resulted in an exothermic reaction that could cause damage to surrounding tissues or melt certain dressings to the wound. I believe the powder would get up to 120 degrees or so while the new guaze version has been toned down a bit. It still puts off heat but not enough to be an issue; only about 100 degrees or so.

It is obviously not something to use on every cut, but for the occasional bleeder, it works very well.
 
SocalSurvivalistX said:
Not to be the one who bashes a good thing but from what I remember hearing it was becoming a real problem because the chemical you pour in chemically burns the area aroun the wound an can damage the wound and melt the gauze or bandage to the skin and it gets really difficult for surgeons to remove to fix the wound.

Of course I could totally be wrong if anyone knows what I'm talking about it and has more info on it. But from what I remember hearing the army was starting to ditch it because it was having bad reports from the field.
Click to expand...

The early stuff DID burn tissue. Luckily, that "formula" has been phased out. The new quickclot gets warm because it is a chemical reaction (not shellfish) but wont cause the burns. I attended a train the trainer course and we poured water on the bandage and passed it around. No one lost any fingers or got any burns from it. Quickclot is a valuable tool but not a cure all.

I was doing some live tissue training where we cut up some pigs and tried to treat the wounds. The quickclot worked just fine with applied pressure and the proper techniques. What really impressed me was how a simple roll of Kerlex (or probably any other gauze bandage) worked to stop the bleeding. We stuffed the wound with this stuff and the gushing femoral arteries were controlled. And the biggest kicker was the kerlex is less that a dollar a roll.

I'll see if I can find the pictures and try to post them.
 
DH1 -
I've used both the sponges and the gauze. Use for any significant wound that may need more than just manual compression. Both products are very easy to use, just pack into wound and hold until the bleeding stops. The mfg says it takes around 5 min. I've seen it work in as little as 2 - which is awesome when dealing folks who are "shocky" or just not good with trauma or blood. The old powdered stuff (discontinued in 2008) used to cause a heat reaction in the wound but the products now are completely heat-free and contained within the mesh bag or in gauze (nothing to pick out of a wound once you get to the doc!). Good stuff. I swear by it.
- C
 
Keep it away from your eyes and mouth. Be wary of wind direction when you are opening it so you dont get a face full of it. It is activated by moisture. The way they trained us in the Air Force was that it was to used as a last resort after a TQ.
 
Vermilion said:
This is the stuff made from crushed shrimp shells right? Guess I might need to be leery of it since I'm allergic to shellfish. Though I guess in a life or death situation I'd take it and then hope they had some epinephrine LOL.
Click to expand...

Vermilion -
The QuikClot products use kaolin and zeolyte which are minerals. No chance for an allergic reaction. There are other products on the market that use biologicals (shrimp shells, etc.) but I shy away from them. Supposedly they don't generate any reaction, but I deal a lot with younger folks and can't take the chance.
- C
 
My only "hands on" experience with the stuff is from 2004 in Baghdad. I was hit by an IED and took a piece to my groin. The doctors applied Quick Clot and I was still bleeding through. Yes, the shit burned like HELL. Slowed down the bleeding greatly but did not stop it 100%

Fortunately the piece passed 5mm from the femoral and I am still able to be here!!
 
Good stuff to know guys!! I'm gonna have to order some of the new stuff asap,
Anyone have some links to what to buy? So I can at least get a specific idea of what i should get?
 
333rm said:
That stuff is awesome! They make it in several different forms now so you have your choice of which to use. Quikclot does have some really good vids on their website showing the proper way to apply the gauze, how to pack it correctly. They are used on live hogs under sedation in the videos where they inflict arterial wounds and show the medics packing the wound. It really is amazing how great it works! This stuff is carried by all Marines in their blowout kits and has been saving lives over there since we went to war.
Click to expand...

+1 on that. Got some in every FAK I have. Which is a few...
 
always have one in my vest... do not open with teeth cause the powder will make your eyes glue shut
 
I have some in my different bags (day bag, truck GO bag). Never had to use them, but the one i use, somewhat frequently, is the nosebleed packs. Very useful, especially for my 5 year old who gets a lot of nosebleeds at night.
 
A Dr. friend of mine said that you can get quick-clot for pets now. He said it is the same stuff and normally you find it cheaper. I do not know for sure but thought I throw it out there.
 
It sounds like there were variations of Quikclot you guys may be talking about, with the newest (best?) one being the one I have, which is in a mesh bag. No powder. The one I ordered is small, about the size of a hamburger pattie.

Good info though, Gravelface owes his life to this stuff!:D

Getting this in today has me redoing my FAK again, and it looks like I'm going to have to get a larger container for everything..my little zippered bag won't cut it anymore.
 
Yeah, the new ones, according to the description on Amazon, are "a chemically inert material in a mesh bag that speeds up coagulation of blood, resulting in a stable clot that stops bleeding." (Amazon)
 
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