For those that have used them or are taking anti-coagulants like Plavix, Warfarin, etc., any recommendations for products to help stop bleeding? Had to go on Plavix after several stents were installed in January and find that even a little nick takes forever to clot up. Can't imagine what a broadhead would do and how hard it would be to stop the bleeding.
The emergency bandage kits provided to military and law enforcement included gauze or other materials that are impregnated with kaolin. It is not an organic substance, but has been approved as a vehicle to accelerate clotting in emergency situations. You can buy various products online or at Dick's, Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc. I just took a trauma first aid class and that was recommended for emergency response kits as well as a commercially available and professionally certified tourniquet.
Quote from: gregg dudley on August 13, 2018, 09:24:06 AM
The emergency bandage kits provided to military and law enforcement included gauze or other materials that are impregnated with kaolin. It is not an organic substance, but has been approved as a vehicle to accelerate clotting in emergency situations. You can buy various products online or at Dick's, Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc. I just took a trauma first aid class and that was recommended for emergency response kits as well as a commercially available and professionally certified tourniquet.
Mr, Dudley covered the answer very well, when we first started getting quick-clot in Iraq it was made from shellfish. Don't ask me why. I don't want to hijack this thread or post, but I wish more hunters were like Mr. Dudley. Taking a trauma first aide class is probably one of THE best things any outdoorsman can do. Even if you do everything perfect out there, nature gets a vote. Besides, the folks hunting and fishing around you may not be so safe, and you might be the difference between their life or death.
Thanks Gregg and Cavscout, Gregg, during your trauma class did they cover the clotting powders available like Wound Seal, etc.? Granted, during a real trauma event the larger kit will certainly be affective but for the run of the mill filet knife, fish spine, broadhead nicks and cuts it would seem that the powders might be helpful. I've never had a problem with those just mentioned but since being on Plavix stopping even oozing blood is more difficult - sometimes taking as much as 24 hours to close up.
I've been on Cumadin for years, and gradually have gotten used to bleeding. Granted, if you were going to lose a serious amount of blood, you would want to do something about it, quickly. But when I bang the back of my hand against something that most people wouldn't even notice, I bleed a lot. I just hold my hand away from my body and let it drip. It stops in 20 or 30 minutes, and I wash up the dried blood the next chance I get. For cuts a little worse than that, pressure helps, from a thumb or a bandage.
I buy this spray stuff at CVS or Walgreens. Small bottle so I carry one in my car, in my quivers. So far I used it once when I fell in the stones and scraped up my arms. Not sure about a serious cut, trying to avoid that.
Personally I like seeing threads like this. We Bowhunters are loners by nature and this type of info can save a life. I know there's a child forum on getting ready for a hunt but unless I was going on such a hunt I probably wouldn't read it in detail. Maybe another child forum on Safety? This thread would be a good start?
Though I am no longer on Plavix I still bleed quite freely and bruise merely by the swipe of a branch. You should see my arms.....
I have had success on smaller cuts with the old septic shaving stick and light pressure with a band aide. I have also used super glue when I could get the blood flow reduced enough to get it on the cut. However, with a larger cut all bets are off. Some of the older guys here may remember my post "I Almost Died" from a number of years back when I stabbed myself with a broad head.
Be careful out there.
I need to get something and keep in my pack. I hunt alone 99% of the time, and have been on Warfarin for the last 3 years.If I cut myself shaving it leaks for days. Thanks for the reminder!
I am no expert, but what I was led to understand is that professionals are steering clear of the powders because any significant blood flow will wash them out of the wound channel before they have a clot. The impregnated gauze works together to keep that from happening. We practiced packing the gauze deep into a "wound".
They issue Cellox at work, thats what makes it into my hunting kit.
I'm on Plavix as well and carry QuikClot.
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Combat gauze and pressure tape is what you need. We use it all the time at the hospital and it works wonders. I've stopped hemorrhaging AV fistula with that stuff and can say first hand that it works.
QuikClot in my first aid kit.
hinking for day to day I nicked myself but bleed alot due to thinners --- up to holy cow I ain't gonna make it -
For small stuff, just some sort of decent gauze (regular) that you can apply with a pressure wrap of some sort. Something more serious to a thinner user but still not a regular persons radar? decent BH slice? impregnated combat gauze? many out there your choice. I also like the Israeli style bandage it is quick and applies pressure as well. Lastly have a combat tourniquet of some sort. Think we should all carry one the problem is realizing when you need it and when you don't for folks that have never seen alot of blood! You can really slim down your kit and not be trying to carry a pharmacy! just a couple things for bad occasions.
Really study or talk to docs? local medics? someone to learn exactly what alot of blood loss really is. Trauma class as mentioned above?
J
Not for a serious wound, but for minor nicks and cuts, plain old black pepper is surprisingly effective. Just pour it into the cut then bandage it. Pepper does not burn when used this way. Gregg, that first aid course sounds very interesting. Did it cover how to use these types of wound dressings? I have some of the clotting bandages in my first aid kit, but I don't have a clue if there is any special consideration when using them.
Sam, we practiced on dummies that had simulated knife wounds/cuts, puncture wounds, gunshot entry, and gunshot exit. In any case,the practice was to press the battle gauze as deeplyinto the wound as possible and pack it tight. We were instructed to shove it as deep into the wound as we could.
Good info Gregg and Lucas. I was putting my kit together earlier today.
Deno
Thanks All for the comments and suggestions. Gregg, I will be looking for a Trauma first aide class, I realize there is much I don't know. Looks like some clotting powder for minor events and combat gauze and tape for anything major. Also, I have a messaged my Doc for another opinion/confirmation.
I carry quick-clot pads, can be bought at lots of outdoor stores, I also carry several pads (women's sanitary pads) in my pack - they are sterile, absorbent, cheep and effective.
No blood thinners here, but I carry a couple packs of celox in my first aid when I'm out in the sticks by myself. Haven't had to use it, so I'm not sure how well it works.
Tourniquet probably wouldn't be a bad idea.
Thanks for the thread, it's real timely as I was considering adding quick clot pads to my kit for a remote hunt coming up. Now I am.
The Chinese herbal medication Yunnan Baiyao in capsule form can be taken internally, or externally in some cases. It is used to treat gun shot and knife wounds. My veterinarian recommended it for a dog that was bleeding internally. We do not know how much blood was lost, but it was enough for him to collapse a couple times, a few capsules as prescribed worked for him. After swallowing a capsule he was up and around within a 5 or 10 minutes. It is sold at different stores including Walm**t. I believe they sell the powder for external bleeding. It probably works like QuickStop powder on animal wounds, very fast. I do not know if Quickstop would be recommended by a doctor. As with anything with instructions, you should become familiar with the product, before you need it. The powder I have used on dogs, was applied with light pressure on a wet gauze or cotton ball. I did not sprinkle it on the bleeding area and expect results. You might Google Yunnan Baiyao (Yunnan Paiyao), and watch the YouTube videos. The following article written by a veternarian, explains some other benefits to Yunnan Baiyao.
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/chinese-herb-for-bleeding-dog-cancers/
If you are reading this thread, you probably fought like hell to get back into the woods after cardiac problems. Re-assess your risks and keep hunting!
After the last 18 months on blood thinners, I had to re-access what I carry into the woods. The most significant risk I have is bleeding out from an accidental cut. I am no expert, but I have had law enforcement training on trauma care. There are some really good products out there to bring you home alive.
Look into the Israeli bandage and the North American rescue tourniquet. The Isreali bandage will handle anything on 90% of your body.
The tourniquet is for that "oh shi%" moment when you just stabbed yourself in the leg with a broadhead or a severe cut on or near a vein, Do not buy cheaply "made in China" substitutes, get the one produced by North American Rescue.
Do not be reluctant to use the tourniquet. The global war on terror has shown us that tourniquets save lives and limbs. They can be used for hours without losing limbs. Do your own research. There are plenty on online sources for training.
Watch the video tutorials and learn to apply these two tools on yourself, one-handed. The time to learn is not while you or your partner is bleeding. I have also added a pair of $15 cut resistant gloves to my kill kit.
This fall will be my first trip to the elk mountains since my heart stints. In addition to the bandages, I have added a Garmin In-reach device with an SOS button. It will stay in my pack when I return to the midwest and hunt whitetails. I may be 1/2 mile from home and have no cell phone signal. The SOS button at least gives me a chance to summon help as I deal with the bleeding.
What a timely discussion for me. Had 2 stents put in August 2nd and have to go for a follow up Cath on the 22nd.
I'm on eliquis, brilinta and Coreg for now. Really wanting to chase elk in the Colorado back country next year. I'll definitely want to have a good medical kit with me.
Thanks for starting this thread!
There are standards for all products and the ones that are commonly referred to as governing trauma products are Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC or T Triple C). There are vast differences in the quality of products. I am putting together some kits for my vehicles and for hunting/kayaking/etc. and in so doing, I am looking for products endorsed by that standard. The three most common approved primary tourniquets are CAT, SOFT-T and SOFT-T Wide. As stated above, 20 years of applications in Iraq/Afghanistan have shown that tourniquets do save lives and can be applied for 4-6 hours without long-term damage to the limb.
I have watched hours and hours of video since taking this class and opinions on what to put in an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAC) vary about as much as they do on which trad bow is the best. There are some common things though: TCCC approved tourniquet, HH Bandage or Israeli Bandage, Chest Seals, name brand combat gauze impregnated with kaolin. From there it gets more variable.
I took the class that I did for work related emergencies in active shooter situations (I'm a school principal), but it has direct application to outdoor recreation. I wish that I had taken it earlier and recommend it to all of you.
Glad to see this thread. I had three bypasses and a stint done 5 months ago, and hope I can get off the Plavix after a year, like the prescription bottle says. I hadn't even thought about how to compensate for the extra risk until seeing this. Thanks, Pete!
Thanks for all the info... Good reminders. Almost cut my wrist wide open in Alaska bush once. Just missed the artery. :help: