Written by Amal Gazi
“Hemorrhage is responsible for over 35% of pre-hospital deaths and over 40% deaths within the first 24 hours” [1]. A hemorrhage refers to a rapid escape of blood; when someone is hemorrhaging, they are typically in a critical state and consistently losing an excessive amount of blood. A hemorrhage is usually caused by a trauma, and by the time paramedics reach a scene, the victim has already endured severe blood loss and is usually in critical condition. Furthermore, the arrival of paramedics doesn’t necessarily ensure that the hemorrhage will be stabilized, meaning that the victim will continue to lose blood and possibly lose his or her life.
The question arises as to how a hemorrhage can be controlled. Typically, in the current state of medicine, there are not many new innovations to control severe blood loss. You often hear the saying, “Apply pressure,” but at some point, applying pressure is not enough and more action is needed to stop persistent bleeding. Hence, a hemorrhage is often coined with the phrase “uncontrollable bleed” [2]. Nonetheless, new technology is being made to pave a way to stop an ‘uncontrollable bleed’ and thus further save many patients.
Currently, Core Scientific Creations (CSC) in Israel has developed a bandage called WoundClot that aims to stop severe bleeding [2]. Because hemorrhaging is the number one killer of soldiers in the battlefield, this innovation was created with soldiers in the battlefield as a priority. By using WoundClot, the bleeding is stopped within minutes, thus potentially saving a soldier’s life. Nevertheless, the process of stopping blood from leaving from the body is not enough because ultimately the wound is still open, with the slight removal of the bandage causing another bleed.
Israeli scientists have taken this matter into account and created WoundClot to enhance natural clotting in the body. The bandage is chemically crafted and is bioabsorbable. The fact that it is bioabsorbable means it eventually breaks down while preventing blood loss. When the bandage is exposed to liquids, it begins to absorb excessive amounts. As a result, when a bandage is used on a hemorrhage, it begins to absorb the blood, and it then transforms into a gel state, holding the entire physical structure together. The blood is no longer lost from the body as it is held in gel state and as the bandage is slowly digested, with the blood restored back into the patient’s blood stream.
Although WoundClot is an Israeli innovation, it can be purchased in the United States for about ten dollars for a small bandage and about a hundred dollars for a single surgical bandage. The usage of this bandage will replace expensive products that have active ingredients. The WoundClot bandage does not possess any active ingredients and thus its usage and storage is greatly simplified.
Innovations such as WoundClot are paving way for better healthcare procedures, and decreasing the amount of deaths as a result of an uncontrollable bleed [2]. Israeli scientists are taking into consideration not only how to stop a hemorrhage but also how the body can work with the bandage to increase survival rates. By stopping a hemorrhage and enhancing natural blood clots, WoundClot is making its mark as a bandage that can truly save lives [3].
References:
- “National Trauma Institute.” National Trauma Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
- Reuters. “New Israeli Bandage Can Stop What Was Once Thought to Be ‘uncontrollable’ Bleeding.” Haaretz.com. N.p., 09 Feb. 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
- Ziv, S. “You Need This Bandage: WoundClot Hemostatic Gauze Can Stop Your Bleeding and Heal You Faster.” Newsweek. N.p., 25 May 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
- No Camels. “Novel WoundClot Bandages Can Stop Severe Bleeding Within Minutes, Save Lives.” NoCamels – Israeli Innovation News. N.p., 09 Mar. 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.