thedrifter
02-28-07, 05:19 AM
Troops Using Conn. Made Blood-Clotting Agent
Product Works To Prevent Severe Blood Loss
UPDATED: 7:34 pm EST February 27, 2007
WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut-based company's product is now being used overseas by the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy to help stop save lives of wounded soldiers.
Wallingford company Z-Medica Corporation developed an agent used to reduce blood loss of injured servicemen. Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Denise D'Ascenzo reported that blood loss has long been one of the main causes of death on the battlefield.
The company's product, Quik Clot, is a granular blood clotting agent used in cases of severe bleeding.
"What it's going to do is interact with the blood. It separates the blood, the water molecule, and starts attracting the platelets … so it's going to create a clot," said Bob Heubner of Z-Medica.
Quik Clot comes as loose granules that can be poured directly into a wound. It also comes wrapped in various sized gauze that can be packed into a wound.
D'Ascenzo reported that members of Connecticut's National Guard learned how to use the variations of the product during a medical conference at Camp Rell earlier in the month.
"We still use things like the tourniquet to stop bleeding, but in certain cases where that's not effective, Quik Clot could be," said Col. Richard Young, a doctor from Branford who has been to Iraq twice.
Col. Robert Cody of the Connecticut National Guard was deployed to Iraq with his battalion of 500 soldiers in 2003.
"It gives the medic, right on the point of injury, the opportunity to stop that horrific bleeding, which in years past would have killed the wounded soldier," Cody said.
The company said that in cases where many injuries are suffered, Quik Clot allows medics to stop blood loss in one person and frees them to move on to others injured.
Z-Medical recently donated 400 units of Quik Clot to Connecticut National Guard members in Afghanistan.
Ellie
Product Works To Prevent Severe Blood Loss
UPDATED: 7:34 pm EST February 27, 2007
WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut-based company's product is now being used overseas by the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy to help stop save lives of wounded soldiers.
Wallingford company Z-Medica Corporation developed an agent used to reduce blood loss of injured servicemen. Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Denise D'Ascenzo reported that blood loss has long been one of the main causes of death on the battlefield.
The company's product, Quik Clot, is a granular blood clotting agent used in cases of severe bleeding.
"What it's going to do is interact with the blood. It separates the blood, the water molecule, and starts attracting the platelets … so it's going to create a clot," said Bob Heubner of Z-Medica.
Quik Clot comes as loose granules that can be poured directly into a wound. It also comes wrapped in various sized gauze that can be packed into a wound.
D'Ascenzo reported that members of Connecticut's National Guard learned how to use the variations of the product during a medical conference at Camp Rell earlier in the month.
"We still use things like the tourniquet to stop bleeding, but in certain cases where that's not effective, Quik Clot could be," said Col. Richard Young, a doctor from Branford who has been to Iraq twice.
Col. Robert Cody of the Connecticut National Guard was deployed to Iraq with his battalion of 500 soldiers in 2003.
"It gives the medic, right on the point of injury, the opportunity to stop that horrific bleeding, which in years past would have killed the wounded soldier," Cody said.
The company said that in cases where many injuries are suffered, Quik Clot allows medics to stop blood loss in one person and frees them to move on to others injured.
Z-Medical recently donated 400 units of Quik Clot to Connecticut National Guard members in Afghanistan.
Ellie