Use of Quicklot ...suggestions

[Aubrey]

Gents

I have secured a small quantity of these sachets/bandages. How good are they in real life? Anything I should take care with? Suggestions welcome.

From Africa

Aubrey

 

[fzen]

IIRC I skimmed an article by a doc in the sandbox months ago. My memory is a little fuzzy but the gist of the article was that quickclot can do more harm than good so it should only be used in an absolute emergency. The quickclot clotting action is an exothermic reaction that produces a lot of heat. It gets into the bloodstream and causes internal burns.

Before adding quickclot to my gear I would do some research.

 

[Tolly]

Gents

I have secured a small quantity of these sachets/bandages. How good are they in real life? Anything I should take care with? Suggestions welcome.

From Africa

Aubrey

First let me say that I am not a doctor or even a paramedic. I have been worked on by some awesome combat medics and docs though, and I have seen several of them work on lots of other folks in combat/emergency situations. I can tell what they say when people ask about QC. They will tell them to learn how to properly control bleeds using direct pressure, pressure points, and elevation, because 99% of them can be controlled that way and anything you dump into a wound has to be cleaned back out.

If you are set on using QC I would suggest using the new QC sponge instead of the "pour & pray" powder.

 

[Quirt]

The Israeli Emergency Bandage is perhaps the best solution. I carry a 4" with me everywhere and have them squirreled away in my bags and vehicles. One is in my cargo side pocket all the time. Best multi-purpose pressure bandage on the planet.

 

[WolfTracker]

Be really careful with those, as the others have cautioned. I own the QC sponges and would only use one as a last ditch if I was *really far* from medical care and if proper techniques failed. QC burns and makes a mess that must be cleaned prior to treatment. Tolly hit it square on the head; learn proper wound treatment skills... They last a lifetime and never have an expiration date.

 

[TFin04]

The Israeli Emergency Bandage is perhaps the best solution. I carry a 4" with me everywhere and have them squirreled away in my bags and vehicles. One is in my cargo side pocket all the time. Best multi-purpose pressure bandage on the planet.

You have had nothing but excellent posts that I've seen today. Keep it up! :thumbup:

 

[Eyegor]

Gents

I have secured a small quantity of these sachets/bandages. How good are they in real life? Anything I should take care with? Suggestions welcome.

From Africa

Aubrey

It sounds to me like you have acquired the newer QC Sport sponges with the hemostatic agent embedded. If that is the case then the information being presented here is out of date. QC has reworked their formula and the exothermic reaction has all but been removed. I would not hesitate to use them but only after the other options have failed. (As an aside the Amer. Academy of Surgeons know longer recommends pressure points or elevation due to lack of empirical evidence of efficiency. The new issue of PHTLS will reflect this) But they can't hurt either, except maybe time. Back on topic: QC is not shown to be the most efficient clotting agent out there, although it is very good. Again, if I understand the OP correctly. you have the sponges. Use as directed, do not puncture and you will be fine.