New Tech - Organic bandages

[MT++]

I just read an article in the paper about the Soon To Be Released new US Army field dressing: It is composed of shrimp shells and vinegar!

Apparently something in shrimp shells cause clotting and, in the studies, were able to "quickly stop aortic bleeding in pigs"

The vinegar was part of the stabilizer to it, otherwise the substance wasn't durable enough

(Globe and Mail, Feb 7/03)

 

[Jame]

Seems like it would sting if Improperly Bostonian - waaait, I mean if improperly applied, of course!

 

[trader jim]

That is realy a fresh idea...you could even have medications on it to stop infections and such, its also bio-degradable and cuts down on other diseases. astep forward, a small step but useful.

 

[MT++]

It was part of a program to develop new dressings. One of the scientists just happened to remember that something in shrimp chitin caused clots (called chitosan).

Serendipity.

Here is the site link:

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?current_row=1&tf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.html&cf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/conf ig&encoded_keywords=field+dressing&option=&start_row=1&start_row_offset1=&num_rows=1&search_results_start=1&query=field+dressing

 

[trader jim]

i wonder about the spray on bandages they were talking about several years ago???...theyalso were all the rage!!

 

[Ross Heenan]

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist myself , I can tell you there have been some interesting advances in spray on dressings but they are mostly used for minor cuts and abrasions . I couldn't see why not, that in the T20 system , that this could have been developed to an extent that it could be used for major wounds .
While I'm having a bit of ramble , there are a few things listed under "Medical Care" that are just not right . A DC 10 for the removal of stitches - maybe a DC of 5 would be closer to the mark ,a DC of 5 for CPR (Cardoipulmonary Resuscitation) would OK if you were just saving a drowning victim but it does not consider factors such a heart rythm disturbances or correct technique to prevent additional trauma such as breaking a rib whilst performing CPR . Maybe list it as Basic Life Support (BLS) DC 5 for minor problems and Advanced Life Support (ALS) for more serious cardiopulmnory problems . Maybe the list in T20 is a bit limited for my liking but thats my Bugbear