Credit: American Chemical Society
A new take on stopping someone from bleeding to death is almost here!
Wither traumatic injuries, serious car accidents, street violence, or field combat, large volume of blood loss causes death. In reality it is the leading cause of death in individuals under age 45 in the US.
A recent field test may significantly change how treatment transpires.
By using a biopolymer derived from the shells of shrimp, scientists have developed foam that once sprayed on open wounds becomes solid stopping bleeding. Successful testing on pigs was reported recently (5/29/15) in the Journal ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering. On pigs a 90% decrease in blood loss was noted and pressure application was not needed.
Chitosan the biopolymer is already being used in 2 types of non–foam wound dressings approved by the FDA.
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