BleedStop powder : Good idea or gimmick?

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Anyone here heard of or used BleedStop powder ?

I wanted to get some opinions on it before I restock the boxes I have of it since a couple of them expired last year.

[majorhavoc]

Anyone here heard of or used BleedStop powder ?

I wanted to get some opinions on it before I restock the boxes I have of it since a couple of them expired last year.

It's a hemostatic (blood clotting) agent - probably calcium alginate or sodium something-something cellulose.  And no, it's not a gimmick.  It's available under a bunch of different trade names.  But my sense (and others with more EMT/medical experience feel free to correct me) is that it works best as a dressing that's been impregnated with the stuff, rather than a separate powder. 

For some people, serious wounds are all they prep for.  So they get a few Israeli bandages and call it a day.  But my philosophy is there are a lot of penetrating injuries between a boo-boo and a gunshot wound.  So instead of, or maybe ideally in addition to, an Israeli bandage, get some 3x3 or 4x4 hemostatic gauze pads.  You can then pile on as many of those as needed depending on the size of the wound.  Something like these.

Just remember that once you control the bleeding, don't pull off that first layer of dressings when you're ready to bandage the wound. Otherwise, you're likely to dislodge the clot and the victim will start bleeding all over again.

[Reason for editing: "More" implies I have some EMT/medical experience, which would be a lie.  Don't listen to anything I say - I'm just some random guy on the internet. ]

[Moab]

I have always had some in my fak. But of course have never used it. Major is right. It good combined with a bandage/gauze would most likely be best. Or at keast piur some in a wound. And bandage over it. 

I always keep alot of sterile gauze. That and thinner duct tape you can make just about any bandage you need. From tiny to larger. I have maybe two fabric bandaids. But that is my main bandaging supply - gauze and tape. I also carry leuko tape and mole skin. I forget the brand of clotting powder I have. But its a less popular one. As the cost was less. 

[flybynight]

I have several packages of Celox in every FAK in my packs .  Also an medium Israeli bandage  in both my GHB and INCH. And lots of gauze and tape. Nope never used any of it and hope I don't . But I'll always keep some in case Hope faulters

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

So it's a good idea for me to pick up some more of this stuff ?

I'll have to check the local Walmarts and see if they still have it on the shelves.

[Moab]

I have several packages of Celox in every FAK in my packs .  Also an medium Israeli bandage  in both my GHB and INCH. And lots of gauze and tape. Nope never used any of it and hope I don't . But I'll always keep some in case Hope faulters

Celox is the one I have too. Its like the secondary name brand. Same stuff but half the cost. 

12_guage - you can get it in smaller packets. Which is fine. Shop around. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I have several packages of Celox in every FAK in my packs .  Also an medium Israeli bandage  in both my GHB and INCH. And lots of gauze and tape. Nope never used any of it and hope I don't . But I'll always keep some in case Hope faulters

Celox is the one I have too. Its like the secondary name brand. Same stuff but half the cost.

12_guage - you can get it in smaller packets. Which is fine. Shop around.

The packets I've got are each 20 grams, which is the only size I've seen BleedStop in. Not sure if they make bigger packs.

[Moab]

I have several packages of Celox in every FAK in my packs .  Also an medium Israeli bandage  in both my GHB and INCH. And lots of gauze and tape. Nope never used any of it and hope I don't . But I'll always keep some in case Hope faulters

Celox is the one I have too. Its like the secondary name brand. Same stuff but half the cost.

12_guage - you can get it in smaller packets. Which is fine. Shop around.

The packets I've got are each 20 grams, which is the only size I've seen BleedStop in. Not sure if they make bigger packs.

Have you looked at Celox? Try that brand. There may be others. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I have several packages of Celox in every FAK in my packs .  Also an medium Israeli bandage  in both my GHB and INCH. And lots of gauze and tape. Nope never used any of it and hope I don't . But I'll always keep some in case Hope faulters

Celox is the one I have too. Its like the secondary name brand. Same stuff but half the cost.

12_guage - you can get it in smaller packets. Which is fine. Shop around.

The packets I've got are each 20 grams, which is the only size I've seen BleedStop in. Not sure if they make bigger packs.

Have you looked at Celox? Try that brand. There may be others.

I've looked at Celox, but that's not available locally. At least not at any of the places I shop at.

I know I can get it online, but I usually prefer to get things locally first if I can.

[MacWa77ace]

Celox is:

Celox is a very effective haemostat granule. It is made of a proprietary composition which contains chitosan. Chitosan is a natural polymer extracted from shrimp shells and highly purified. Celox's composition is protected by 3 international patent applications.

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide (polymer made of sugars) and has been shown to be broken down to basic sugars (glucosamine & n-acetyl glucosamine) by lysozyme, one of the body's normal enzymes. Celox™ does NOT use non degrading procoagulant minerals or nano particles such as kaolin, smectite or zeolite, which will remain in the body indefinitely unless completely removed.

So I'm assuming some other brands use non degrading procoagulant minerals or nano particles such as kaolin, smectite or zeolite. Which if they are non degrading, why do they have a shelflife. And sugar lasts forever.



I always thought there was some clay in some of them. Looking these up; kaolin, smectite and zeolite, they are in the clay family. Clay has a shelflife?

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'm looking at one of the packets of BleedStop right now and there's a little deal after the warning about seeking medical attention if the bleeding doesn't stop that says "Product contains Amylopectin".

I wonder if that's why there's an expiration date on the packets ?

[MacWa77ace]

I'm looking at one of the packets of BleedStop right now and there's a little deal after the warning about seeking medical attention if the bleeding doesn't stop that says "Product contains Amylopectin".

I wonder if that's why there's an expiration date on the packets ?

Sugar, same but different from Celox brand. Do they have a percentage or is that the only ingredient?

Amylopectin is a water-insoluble polysaccharide and highly branched polymer of α-glucose units found in plants. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylose. Plants store starch within specialized organelles called amyloplasts

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'm looking at one of the packets of BleedStop right now and there's a little deal after the warning about seeking medical attention if the bleeding doesn't stop that says "Product contains Amylopectin".

I wonder if that's why there's an expiration date on the packets ?

Sugar, same but different from Celox brand. Do they have a percentage or is that the only ingredient?

Amylopectin is a water-insoluble polysaccharide and highly branched polymer of α-glucose units found in plants. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylose. Plants store starch within specialized organelles called amyloplasts

Let me see if I can find the box they came in and I'll check the ingredients. I doubt amylopectin would be the only ingredient, but you never know.

ETA: So I found the box, but there's no ingredient list anywhere on it. All it says is "Product contains amylopectin".

So I'm going to assume BleedStop is just repackaged Celox. Which for 6 bucks a two pack seems like a good deal to me.

Then again, I've never priced actual Celox so I could be wrong.

[Moab]

Varying opinions on this stuff. But seems to work. Here are a couple sites of note. The first one claims Celox is used by the military. But so is Quikclot. Not much info in Bleedstop. But good reviews.

https://israelifirstaid.com/blogwhich-hemostatic-aid-to-choose/

https://tactical-medicine.com/pages/hemostatic-agents

A study between quikclot banages and bleedstop banages showed bleedstop was faster. For what thats worth.

I think either is fine. But its a little sus that no one seems to say whats in bleedstop. I'm sticking with Celox. 

Studies show plain pressure gauze will stop bleeding just as well as these powders. But the powders are faster. 

[MacWa77ace]

Celox claims it will clot arterial bleeds.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

If BleedStop is the same as Celox, I'm thinking maybe the ingredients are exactly the same or at least similar to Celox.

[MacWa77ace]

they're most likely not the same but use the same idea of polysaccharide.

[Moab]

they're most likely not the same but use the same idea of polysaccharide.

I agree. Celox is for sure better. But again, none of this is necessary. Except in maybe very bad, last seconds type situations. But I carry Celox, isreali bandage, duct tape and a good amount of sterile gauze.

I would also look at expiration dates. I don't recall what it is for Celox.

[MacWa77ace]

The expiration on Celox is ~2 years. I just checked.



These 'paks' are in my MAC MOD TCCC IFAKs.

Meds and TCCC card
Celox x2
Comfort pak
Sutures

[Moab]

Thanks, Mac. Mines way older than 2 years. If anybody finds a good deal. Please pass it on.