MMI September 2010 - mmi home

8 Heartbeat News & Views
Cutting the flow
In remote locations where access to extensive
medical resources is limited, a bleeding wound
can quickly evolve into life threatening,
debilitating blood loss. Keen first aiders know
that haemorrhaging can often be slowed
through the application of direct pressure to
the wound but serious bleeding can prove
difficult to stem.
British military supply company Milsys
Limited supplies Celox to the defence sector
and Jon Davis, product manager explained why
Celox has broad appeal across other industries:
“It is effective, safe and easy to use. It controls
severe bleeding within minutes, and this
bleeding stays controlled until the patient gets
to a surgical facility. In austere environments,
and metabolised by the body.”
Paul Slade, managing director at Universal
Marine Medical Supply Co. (sole Celox
distributor for the Maritime industry) said:
“We’re putting Celox onto commercial ships
and are in talks with the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency to see if we can get it
included as part of the maritime scales.” Mr
Celox is made of a
propriety composition
which contains chitosan; a
natural polymer extracted
and highly purified from
shrimp
Drawing on research by US-based
philanthropist and marine biologist Tim Evans,
Celox was developed by ethical British
company MedTrade as a solution for the
treatment of emergency bleeding. A
haemostatic granule, this unique product works
by bonding to the surface of red blood cells
and platelets, producing a gel-like clot which
effectively ‘plugs’ the wound.
Celox is available in three different
presentations: granules, a plastic application
syringe and now, a gauze dressing which has
been adopted by the UK Ministry of Defence as
its haemostatic agent of choice for the
treatment of severe bleeding resulting from
battlefield injuries. After successful application
within industries ranging from veterinary and
hospital to sporting and leisure services, Celox
is now gaining attention as a pioneering
method of saving lives within the maritime
industry.
where seconds and minutes really do count,
the ability of Celox products to stop bleeding is
truly life-saving.”
Mr Davis also explained the origins of the
product: “Celox is made of a propriety
composition which contains chitosan; a natural
polymer extracted and highly purified from
shrimp shells. Chitosan can be described as an
ecologically sound substance as it is made from
the waste generated in shrimp factories.” He
added that Celox is biodegradable and
therefore “chitosan granules remaining in the
wound site during surgery will be broken down
Slade emphasised the fact that most deaths at
sea relate to cardiac problems or bleeding
injuries and added: “Celox is effective in clotting
during hypothermia so it works even if you’re
very cold which obviously at sea, you could be.
If you’re taking medication to thin your blood,
this product still works. It promotes the rapid
coagulation of the blood so it stops the
bleeding even when applying pressure.”
When asked about his hopes for the growth
of Celox as a brand, Jon Davis added: “As a
relatively new product line, Celox is not as well
known as it needs to be. Our intention is to
bring the Celox product line to the attention of
all medical first responders and first aiders to
allow them to confidently treat severe bleeding
and save their patients’ lives. Celox is an
inexpensive addition to any first responder’s
equipment, and really should be in every first
aid kit where bleeding may occur.” ❤
“We’re putting Celox onto
commercial ships and are
in talks with the Maritime
and Coastguard Agency to
see if we can get it
included as part of the
maritime scales”
maritime medical international ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ september 2010