Hemostatic Powders and Hemostatic Gauze

[Wasteland Charlie]

I am building 2 identical trauma kits. I do not have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of having/using hemostatic agents.

Are the powders superior to impregnated gauze, or vice versa?

Is regular gauze that much less capable than hemostatic gauze?

Any ranking of brands would be useful.

Thanks in advance.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Only brand I've got experience with is the Bleed Stop stuff from Walmart.

Thankfully I haven't had to use any of it yet, but that also prevents me from giving a real review of it. Kind of an odd situation.

[Moab]

I've had Quickclot powder in my kit for years. Based on reviews and price. I have not had to use it. I think it is well worth it. Based on reviews and military use.

I recently picked up some impregnated gauze from Ailexpress. Not terribly expensive. And alot of options. It comes in many different widths and lengths. I have no way of testing it. But I think between the Quickclot powder, sterile gauze and this impregnated gauze I'm fine. 

My FAKs tend to be minimalist. You can do alot with duct tape and sterile gauze. Adding some powder further maximizes it's range of capabilities. 

[Rednex]

At work im a first responder. Well one day .I was off this is what i heard from another first responder ( who was a corpsman in the Army ).  our safety manager got a call from someone else about a guy got a cut. He ran got some QuikClot out of a kit and dumped it on the cut. The cut wasn't that bad to need it, the poor guy was taken to the local hospital ( where we have a contract for first aid) and he had to sit there while the doc's picked each tiny little piece of the QuikClot out of the cut ( debride a wound) so they could clean it and   sew him up.

I hear Celox is better, and is what i carry. Ain't had to use it yet thank god.

[Wasteland Charlie]

At work im a first responder. Well one day .I was off this is what i heard from another first responder ( who was a corpsman in the Army ).  our safety manager got a call from someone else about a guy got a cut. He ran got some QuikClot out of a kit and dumped it on the cut. The cut wasn't that bad to need it, the poor guy was taken to the local hospital ( where we have a contract for first aid) and he had to sit there while the doc's picked each tiny little piece of the QuikClot out of the cut ( debride a wound) so they could clean it and  sew him up.

I hear Celox is better, and is what i carry. Ain't had to use it yet thank God.

Yes, I have heard that the powder could cause problems, but nothing definitive. Treated gauze seems to be more popular now, but that's only an impression I am getting.

[Wasteland Charlie]

Okay, taking the info from here, I found an article discussing Celox and Quickclot on gauze, but not in powder form.

The advantage of Celox is that it works faster than Quikclot, which would be advantageous for someone self-administering trauma aid to the themselves.

However,

Quikclot works better (Johnson and Johnson study). It is more likely to work with Quikclot engaging 100% to Celox's 70%. It is also 15.9 times more likely to maintain hemostasis.

But

Either agent is far superior than just using sterile gauze. 

Link to Article:
https://truerescue.com/blogs/knowledge/how-to-choose-best-hemostatic-gauze

[Moab]

I honestly don't remember which one I have. Its one of the two. But yes. For sure better to have than not. 

I'm not up on who makes what or where. But AliExpress sells it for cheap. The impregnated gauze. They sell Kaolin Impregnated Gauze. 

I just found this on AliExpress: 
$9.12 | Tactical Kaolin Hemostatic Compressed Gauze Emergency Outdoor Binding Fixed IFAK Trauma Wound Dressing Bandage First Aid Kits
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKz1rJN

[Z.O.R.G.]

If I remember correctly, the switch to gauze from powder was that on major wounds the powder could get into a vein or artery and cause a blood clot somewhere else in the body.  The gauze keeps it all in one place at the wound site where it's needed.

[Wasteland Charlie]

I honestly don't remember which one I have. Its one of the two. But yes. For sure better to have than not.

I'm not up on who makes what or where. But AliExpress sells it for cheap. The impregnated gauze. They sell Kaolin Impregnated Gauze.

I just found this on AliExpress:
$9.12 | Tactical Kaolin Hemostatic Compressed Gauze Emergency Outdoor Binding Fixed IFAK Trauma Wound Dressing Bandage First Aid Kits
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKz1rJN

I got some Aliexpress Kaolin gauze, but I was giftes some Quikclot fir Christmas, so I will replace it.

[Moab]

I honestly don't remember which one I have. Its one of the two. But yes. For sure better to have than not.

I'm not up on who makes what or where. But AliExpress sells it for cheap. The impregnated gauze. They sell Kaolin Impregnated Gauze.

I just found this on AliExpress:
$9.12 | Tactical Kaolin Hemostatic Compressed Gauze Emergency Outdoor Binding Fixed IFAK Trauma Wound Dressing Bandage First Aid Kits
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKz1rJN

I got some Aliexpress Kaolin gauze, but I was giftes some Quikclot fir Christmas, so I will replace it.

Good idea. 

I have no idea how you could test this stuff. I put it in bags I otherwise would not have costwise. As it's so cheap. Only reason I'm using it. I use Quickclot in my own bags. 

But for extra first aid in the extra family member bags I put extra cheap stuff. If I can afford it and it's usable. And it doesn't take up to much room or weight. 

[Butler Ford]

I do keep Quick clot gauze in my trauma kit.

[MacWa77ace]

Some thoughts.

The hemostatic impregnated gauze is expensive.  Regular or even compressed gauze is not in comparison.
Also Celox or any clotting agent is also not that expensive when purchased by itself.

I've thought about the pros and cons and landed on using the following 3 items for reasons.
Rolls of plain gauze and also compressed gauze.
Separate hemostatic agents in their own packaging.
Ace bandage(s) which are also cheap by themselves or in bulk.

If you have a minor cut and all you have is a $30 hemostatic gauze, that's a waste. So for minor cuts I'd just use the gauze because its separate from the hemostatic agent and cost effective for that use.

If you have a major puncture or laceration; then combine the gauze with the hemostatic.

If you have a wound that is a major bleeder needing compression, combine the hemostatic with gauze still in its roll and wrap with the ace bandage to create a compression dressing.

Also if you have a sprain or a break you have the ace bandage.

So basically many different uses by separating these items from each other.

I've heard arguments that the hemostatic powders can be blown away in the wind as you're applying them and so that's why the hemostatic infused bandages are better. I don't agree with that argument. YMMV

[Wasteland Charlie]

Some thoughts.

The hemostatic impregnated gauze is expensive.  Regular or even compressed gauze is not in comparison.
Also Celox or any clotting agent is also not that expensive when purchased by itself.

I've thought about the pros and cons and landed on using the following 3 items for reasons.
Rolls of plain gauze and also compressed gauze.
Separate hemostatic agents in their own packaging.
Ace bandage(s) which are also cheap by themselves or in bulk.

If you have a minor cut and all you have is a $30 hemostatic gauze, that's a waste. So for minor cuts I'd just use the gauze because its separate from the hemostatic agent and cost effective for that use.

If you have a major puncture or laceration; then combine the gauze with the hemostatic.

If you have a wound that is a major bleeder needing compression, combine the hemostatic with gauze still in its roll and wrap with the ace bandage to create a compression dressing.

Also if you have a sprain or a break you have the ace bandage.

So basically many different uses by separating these items from each other.

I've heard arguments that the hemostatic powders can be blown away in the wind as you're applying them and so that's why the hemostatic infused bandages are better. I don't agree with that argument. YMMV

I have all that except the powder, or it's on order. I was give m some Quikclot gauze for Christmas. I also bought a 6" Israeli bandage. Thanks for responding.

[Moab]

Some thoughts.

The hemostatic impregnated gauze is expensive.  Regular or even compressed gauze is not in comparison.
Also Celox or any clotting agent is also not that expensive when purchased by itself.

I've thought about the pros and cons and landed on using the following 3 items for reasons.
Rolls of plain gauze and also compressed gauze.
Separate hemostatic agents in their own packaging.
Ace bandage(s) which are also cheap by themselves or in bulk.

If you have a minor cut and all you have is a $30 hemostatic gauze, that's a waste. So for minor cuts I'd just use the gauze because its separate from the hemostatic agent and cost effective for that use.

If you have a major puncture or laceration; then combine the gauze with the hemostatic.

If you have a wound that is a major bleeder needing compression, combine the hemostatic with gauze still in its roll and wrap with the ace bandage to create a compression dressing.

Also if you have a sprain or a break you have the ace bandage.

So basically many different uses by separating these items from each other.

I've heard arguments that the hemostatic powders can be blown away in the wind as you're applying them and so that's why the hemostatic infused bandages are better. I don't agree with that argument. YMMV

Ya. I came to pretty much the same conclusion. Except I add a double use here with duct tape. Sterile gauze and some duct tape can replace pretty much any bandage. From tiny to large. Quickly. The duct tape can triple as a split with support. I refuse to carry a huge selection of bandages.

A credit card of duct tape, sterile gauze, and scissors on my Leatherman account for the bulk of my first aid. Of course assorted creams and medication. A suture kit. Tourniquet. A few temp strips.

I also use Israeli bandages from AliExpress. Very cheap. And a step up from Ace.