About AMEDD - AMEDD Innovations Since Desert Storm

Uncontrolled bleeding is a major cause of death in combat. About 50 percent of those who die on the battlefield bleed to death in minutes, before they can be evacuated to an aid station. New blood-clotting bandages will save lives on the battlefield.

Fibrin bandage

• Contains fibrinogen and thrombin, clotting proteins in blood.
• Can reduce blood loss by 50 to 85 percent.
• Approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational use by special operations Soldiers, with informed consent by the patient.
• Developed by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the American Red Cross. Produced by CSL, Ltd.

Chitosan bandage

• Made of chitosan, a biodegradable carbohydrate found in the shells of shrimp, lobsters and other animals.
• Chitosan bonds with blood cells, forming a clot.
• In test, effectively stanched a wound bleeding at a rate of 300 milliliters per 30 seconds.
• Approved by Food and Drug Administration in November 2002.
• No hazard to people allergic to shrimp.
• Developed by Oregon Medical Laser Center on a grant from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Produced by HemCon, Inc.

One-handed tourniquet

• Allows an isolated Soldier to stop bleeding in an arm or leg without assistance.
• Issued to special operations Soldiers.
• Consists of loops of nylon webbing that tighten when pulled to shut off blood flow.
• Exempt from Food and Drug Administration approval.
• Developed by U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Produced by Canvas Specialties.