Shrimp-Based Bandages Save Lives 65
Roland Piquepaille writes "Unstoppable bleeding is one of the leading causes of death on battlefields. But now, soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have a way to reduce bleeding when they're wounded. In "War Bandages," ScienCentral News writes that these new bandages contain chitosan molecules, extracted from shrimp shells. These positively charged chitosan molecules attract negatively charged red blood cells, stopping hemorrhage in one to five minutes. As said one of the co-founders of the Oregon-based company behind these bandages, "You can have a hole in your heart and 60 seconds later it's sealed." The Food and Drug Administration approved these bandages for human usage, but today they are exclusively sold to the Army. With a $90 price tag for a 4-inch-by-4-inch single bandage, would you buy them anyway? This overview contains more details and references. It also shows you how the red blood cells are attracted by the chitosan molecules."
"hole in your heart"?! (Score:3, Interesting)
ummm...how large a hole can you have for SIXTY SECONDS without already being doomed to eventual death from shock or brain hypoxia or circulatory collapse?
and how long does it take from the time the hole is created until the time it's realized, exposed, and then treated?
Just the Army? (Score:4, Interesting)
Weird. I knew a former Marine who talked about using the shrimp-based bandages for wounds. They've been atound for a while, that's for sure.
Shrimp and Potatoes (Score:4, Interesting)
Shellfish! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Shellfish! (Score:3, Interesting)
The clotting should work. Let's hope there's an epi stick in the first aid kit too and you can not die both ways.
I wonder if the low blood pressure associated with anaphylaxis could be beneficial in the case of a gushing wound.
If it's refined enough you'd probably not have to worry in the first place.
These would be life savers if everyone had one. (Score:3, Interesting)
Imagine a car accident, you drive by and see someone clutching their wrist/arm/etc and is applying pressure to stop the bleeding.
If one of the these patch bandaids can stop hemorraging type bleeding in 60 seconds, that would be a life saver. It means the difference between making it to the hospital or dying on the way.
The same would apply to shootings where the wound itself didn't damage anything life theatening, but did result in a badly bleeding wound. A patch bandaid capable of stopping the bleeding would be a godsend.
As another pointed out, seafood allergies would suck.
These can also be of great assistance in helping people who have "accidentally" cut their wrists or otherwise rendered a life threatening wound where death by bloodloss may result.
At $90 a pop for a 4"x4" bandage isn't cheap, but that is relative. If you just suffered an accident with a sharp piece of metal and are bleeding badly, $90 to stop the bleeding and save your life will be a bargain.
I would imagine that for smaller wounds, the bandage can be cut into smaller sections.
If they can drop the price to $10 per 4"x4" bandage and sell them in packs of 4-5, you would be able to offer them in local stores, to ERT/EMT, and to schools.
This kind of medical discovery is what we need more of. Ways to save lives.
Re:"hole in your heart"?! (Score:1, Interesting)