UPDATE: This blog post has been very popular since it was first posted in 2012, but I received this additional information from the company that produces this product and thought it only fair to include it in the body of this article:
We came across this review on your blog and we do like your blog! However, the product you mention concerning QuikClot has not been produced since 2009.
Currently, QuikClot products are now in their 3rd generation and are composed of a rayon/polyester gauze impregnated with a mineral called kaolin. Kaolin has been shown to accelerate the body’s natural coagulation cascade and is a naturally-occurring, inorganic mineral that does not contain any botanicals, biological material or shellfish products and does not cause any exothermic reaction or vascular complications. QuikClot is intuitive, with a simple-to-use dressing format, conforms readily to the wound and will not break down or fall apart under pressure. The hemostatic dressing may be left in place for up to 24 hours. To remove, gently remove dressing and thoroughly irrigate wound. Please view our website here for more information: http://goo.gl/c8KbUJ.
Our product is credited with helping thousands of people survive traumatic blood loss every year. It’s used by our military, law enforcement officers, EMS departments and in hospitals throughout the country. We would ask if you could please retract your post or include this amendment. I’d be happy to provide you with additional information if you need it. Thanks again for your help in this,
Z-MEDICA, LLC
203-294-0000 X243 (Office)
203-232-0649 (Mobile)
THE ORIGINAL REVIEW: QuikClot, the product, seems almost too good to be true. Even the slowest prepper on earth can stop a deep wound gushing with blood by simply opening a packet of QuikClot an slapping it into place. Who wouldn’t want this miraculous product in their first-aid kit?
Well, doctors and nurses, for one! As it turns out, QuikClot can cause more harm than good, sometimes, and makes life more difficult for the medical professionals who have to deal with the injured patient.
Here is what two professionals told me about this product.
First, from Courtney, an E.R. nurse:
Next, I asked James Hubbard, The Survival Doctor, for his opinion, and here is his response:
“First there’s the mess that comes with QuikClot.
My experience has been seeing fairly minor wounds treated with QuikClot. If the patient has used the older version of the product, I have to clean and scrub, and still I’m not certain I’ve gotten all the granules out. When this has happened, I can’t help but think that if they had simply applied direct pressure on the wound, I wouldn’t be forced to traumatize the fragile tissue so much more. I understand this is a complaint with emergency-room physicians and trauma surgeons also, except the wounds they see can be much worse, and time can be precious.
Prior to 2008, QuikClot also produced a lot of heat when it reacted with blood, and this can be very painful—even burn flesh. If a granule flew into an eye, ouch!
The more recent version uses a chemical that doesn’t cause as much of a burn reaction, although it can still get hot when it comes in contact with plain water. They’ve also encased it in gauze. Hallelujah!”
QuikClot isn’t a cure-all
He goes on, “But my main concern about QuikClot is that some people think it’s a cure-all.
Certainly it can be a lifesaver in battles, where the wounds are large and potential blood loss is severe. It stops the bleeding long enough for these injured victims to get to surgical care. But the key is getting them the surgical care.
Lay people tend to use QuikClot first-line for every wound. They forget the basics, like direct pressure. If anyone pulls off the QuikClot to actually treat the wound, the clot comes with it, and you’re back to stage one unless there are granules, and then the situation has been made worse.
Remember, QuikClot does nothing to repair the wound. You put this stuff in, and that’s only the beginning. You can’t keep it in forever. It will stop working at some point, and because it’s a foreign body, it will increase the risk for a bad infection. When it’s removed, the bleeding begins anew.
A wound often includes an artery that supplies vital blood to an extremity. If the artery is not surgically repaired fairly quickly, the extremity will die. Gangrene will set in. The QuikClot may have been a lifesaver, but only short-term.
The bottom line is QuikClot in your bug-out-bag is not enough. You need to know when and how to use it. Start by learning how to stop bleeding with direct pressure. Know your pulse points in the arms and legs, and how you can press on them to stop the bleeding. Know how to use a tourniquet for extreme injuries.
Then, watch a few instructional videos on how to properly use QuikClot.”
When would QuikClot be an acceptable remedy?
The Survival Doctor continues, “Okay, I’d use QuikClot in a flash if blood were pouring, and direct pressure or pressure on pulse points wasn’t going to stop the bleeding, and using QuikClot was the only thing I knew to do to save a life—like if a femoral artery were cut so close to the groin a tourniquet wasn’t feasible. Or if I were facing a gusher on the neck and pressure wasn’t helping. I’d try it on a badly bleeding chest or abdominal wound if I couldn’t do anything else, even though I know if the QuikClot doesn’t come in contact with the bleeding blood vessel, it’s not going to help.
After the bleeding had stopped, I’d apply a pressure dressing on the wound and figure out how I was going to get this person some definitive medical help ASAP.
Oh, and if you have the old granule type of QuikClot, replace it with the new gauze type. Whoever ends up repairing the wound will thank you.”
Bottom line:
Only use QuikClot if:
- Direct pressure over several minutes isn’t stopping the bleeding.
- The compress becomes saturated with blood quickly and repeatedly. (A sanitary pad is helpful for these types of injury and provides an idea of the level of injury that would cause several of these pads to be soaked through in a matter of minutes.)
- You are miles and miles from any medical assistance.
The best action to take now is to become better informed and trained in the areas of first aid and medical care. Visit The Survival Doctor’s blog, watch videos on YouTube and locate classes that teach these skills. Someday you might save the life of a friend or loved one.
Absolutely, every human should know basic first aid. Don’t assume you know it just based on being a logical informed person. You’d be surprised at what you don’t know. Get a good book (not one of those useless 6 page pamphlets). Take a class. Be sure it includes the latest info on CPR and the Heimlich.
Quick Clot is a terribly useful item when it’s needed, and so are bazookas. But they’re not always needed. A garter snake in your daughters closet is not time for the bazooka, and a fish hook through the thumb is not time for the quick clot. Do not use any advanced medical technique without actual training. This includes self applied sutures!
Done right, you can save a life. Done wrong, you could permanently maim or kill somebody who was saveable. Take a class.
The header of your article is very misleading. It’s like saying that many chronically ill people took aspirin before they passed away so aspirin is BAD! Quick Clot was developed for GUN SHOT WOUNDS, not scrapes from a fish hook. Next thing you know people will be bleeding out and dying because of an idiotic article like this quoting and E.R. nurse complaining about cleaning a wound. I’d rather have her have a tough time cleaning it that the mortician having an easy time puting make up on it.
I reviewed the article in light of your comments and find the article to be completely fair, honest, with common sense recommendations about the use of this product. In fact, Quick Clot has improved their product over the years. Try reading the article again.
Your comments do not match the current research on this product. applied. Quik Clot is currently recommended by the national Stop the Bleed program. Like any intervention, it needs to be properly applied. Misuse is not the fault of the product. In all fairness, you should revise your notes to reflect currently accurate information. You are potentially causing harm.
I updated my information, did I not?
Thank You for some VERY useful information from someone who felt like because I raised 9 kids and am logical thinking and feel like I know first aid I am fine. Now I am planning getting a good first aid book for our emergency kit!
The article content is valid, very informative, and helpful.
My concern is, like I think others stated, is in the title itself: “The Case Against QuikClot”
Truly, the article isn’t a “Case against QuikClot”, as the article and updated information clearly refute the title.
It certainly draws attention, but can be misconstrued.
Hi Ken. After all these years, the url of this article is what it is, along with the title. I think it’s helpful for people to get a perspective of how the product has improved.
Excellent post! As a wife of a military member, we seem to acquire this stuff no problem in “the box”, but a good reminder that it is literally for a combat/SHTF injury where there is NO access to medical care and the best thing is to know basic first aid, location of nearest hospital and the name of a nurse/doctor friend you can call for advice!
p.s. got my book today – doing the happy dance!
My husband is a Navy FMF corpsman (combat medic) and he told me never to use QuikClot unless you’re pretty darned sure you’re going to bleed to death without it. It’s great that we have access to this resource (instead of it being restricted to military & professional medical personnel), but like many other resources, you can do a lot more harm than good without training in how & when to use it.
It is so very important for individuals to know first aid…to even go beyond Basic First Aid to training like Wilderness First Aid so that you learn what to do when you can’t call 911.
As far as Quick Clot is concerned — it’s terrible stuff! Thankfully, there is a product out there that provides a method of clotting blood quickly WITHOUT all the nastiness of Quick Clot. It’s called CELOX. (The only drawback to Celox is that it can’t be used with people who have a shellfish allergy.) There are different applications that you can buy from Amazon. We don’t have an affiliation with Amazon yet, but when we do, this will definitely be a product we sell! My husband just told me that he saw it at Walmart last night in the camping section.
Here’s a quote from the amazon.com page from the manufacturer of Celox:
“CELOX is a new high-performance hemostatic material. It is a proprietary marine biopolymer designed to control high-volume arterial bleeding without cautery. CELOX is suitable for many applications ranging from deep arterial bleeds to superficial wounds. A clot forms within minutes after pouring the product into the wound. Excess granules form a gelled mass to protect the clot. The gelled material is easy to remove. CELOX does not generate any heat, produce burning, nor does it embed itself into the wound. CELOX works whether blood temperature is 98.7 or 65.4 and it works on heparinized blood. CELOX works independently of the blood clotting factors. The granules are lightweight, packaged in sterilized, sealed packets which are easy and fast to open. CELOX is poured into the wound and held down with gauze for 5 minutes. A compression bandage is then wrapped over the gauze covered wound and patient is transported.Use Celox Gauze or Celox Granular formula on nails that are clipped to close, on cuts, bites and lacerations. Once bleeding is stopped you can better assess the injury and seek medical attention if necessary.”
Are you sure about that? Their marketing materials state that there has never been any problem using Celox in persons having a shellfish allergy.
Celox is purified to 100% and all the allergens are removed. whether or not you are allergic to shellfish you can use CELOX.
Did a lot of reading about Quik clot and CELOX before deciding on CELOX for our prepper first aid supplies. Just like anything else need to know how to use it.
Penetrating wounds will usually begin to form a hematoma (feels like a goose egg) deep within the soft tissue and muscle. In the case of an arterial wound, you may even feel it pulsate as you press in a bit.
Usually you can hold firm pressure over that point (not necessarily the entry point) for about ten minutes to stem the flow and form a good clot. Press too hard, and you can actually stretch, open, and/or tear the artery even worse.
Sure, not every wound can/will form a clot sufficient to stop the bleeding. But QuickClot would never get to that wound anyway. And in that case the survivability of the patient is likely poor, short of a battlefield surgeon on the spot with some crossclamps.
Want to know how to do it right? Have a conversation with a good cardiac cath lab nurse. He/she will have held pressure on hundreds of small-bore sized holes that go straight into arteries (radial/femoral). The really good ones can generally keep the size of the hematoma smaller than a marble.
We keep CELOX in our bag when we are out hiking with the dogs. We have used it before on a dog that tore open her pad and the bleeding would not stop. The vet loved the CELOX, and said every dog owner should have some. Great for humans and pets! 🙂
I’m a cardiac ICU nurse, and I hold pressure to stop bleeding all the time (after removing arterial lines and central venous lines, ect). The key is applying VERY firm pressure on the site (using plenty of sterile gauze) and NOT PEEKING. You’ll usually have to wait at least 10 minutes (sometimes much longer) before a good clot will develop. In the meantime, the bleeding is controlled by the pressure you apply, so don’t rush things. Be patient. Pulling off the gauze will pull off the fragile new clot, so just add additional layers of gauze over the older layers if they become saturated with blood. Only use Quickclot if there is heavy bleeding that can’t be stopped by manual pressure alone. Then, by all means use it…and get medical help quickly.
Great post! I have been looking at QuikClot recently and thought I would share some info. There are three generations of QuikClot. The first generation was a powder form that was poured directly into the wound. This seems to be the one that causes doctors and nurses so much trouble. The second generation which includes names such as Sport, ACS+, 1st Response, and Sport Silver are all in a pouch form – this seems to be the most readily available form that is pretty easy to find. The Sport Silver one includes silver ions which is supposed to help fight bacteria. The third generation is infused directly with gauze and is not in a granular form like the first two generations. The first two generations are made with zeolite beads and the third generation is made with kaolin. The manufacturer of QuikClot is Z Medica – go to their website for more info on the differences. Not sure if anyone will be looking to buy any after reading this post, but if you are, I just thought I’d share some of the differences in what is available.
I recently bought 2 small packages of quikClot for my truck FirstAid Kit. It is in the gauze form and not granual form. I also thru in some tampons to. The reason that I bought quikclot for that specific firstaid kit was becuase I use a chainsaw alot. If it is one thing a chainsaw can do is create a devastating wound that is wide and deep and you may only have seconds to stop the bleeding. Also, their is a good chance you are in the woods and getting to an emergency room will take time. That is why I have it. A bad cut could be handled by the tampons or other banadages so quickclot is just there for a life or death emergency
CELOX CELOX CELOX CELOX CELOX.
The stuff works, and has none of the negative indications associated with QuickClot. I’d say more, but I have a companion article to yours over at my pad. (Shameless plug) http://asurvivalplan.com/2012/02/02/celox/
Celox seems to have a lot less issues that EMS people complain about. One thing I don’t see addressed in all the preasure preasure preasure talk is a front to back GSW, to me the A applicators and celox seems to be a good solution. I just don’t see pressure stoping deep internal bleeding by itself.
Chitosan (Celox) vs Zeolite (Quick Clot) powders works VERY differently. Chitosan binds the red blood cells together (made from shell fish) Zeolite “absorbs” water and brings blood cells and clotting factors closer together (note INTENSE exothermic reaction aka burns everything). However both are outdone by Combat Gauze by Quick Clot. It is impregnated with Kaolin that increases clotting speed 10X by triggering clotting factor 11 and 12 and it gives off no heat whatsoever.
Thank for the advice against using QuickClot. I didn’t realize it was such a problem AFTER the bleeding has stopped.
I am a Staff Sergeant active duty combat medic. I currently am an instructor for Combat Medics here at Ft. Sam Houston Texas (San Antonio). The U.S. Army no longer uses Quick Clot to stop bleeding in wounds. Our own data (and my own experience 3 tours Afghanistan and 1 Iraq) have shown that it simply does not work. But let me back up a minute and tell you ALL the information that this article completely left out, I am still no Quick Clot expert but the article is poorly researched and explained sorry if this gets long.
1) Quick Clot (older version) was made up of granules (like kitty litter). The way that you used it was to open the sealed packet and pour it into the wound. The Quick Clot would “work” by creating an exothermic (heat producing) reaction when it came in contact with water/blood and cauterizing the wound (aka burn the crap out of everything)
2)The problem:
Problem 1: Quick Clot can’t tell the difference between sweat, blood, tears or which patient was injured. So the second it touches anything wet it starts to react and heat up. So if your friend was chopping logs and was all sweaty and hacked his leg open and you poorer this “in” the wound any wear that it touched and had blood on it would be burned. His sweaty non-blood covered portion of his leg could get burned and your own blood covered hands will get burned.
Problem 2: Obviously the intent of Quick Clot is to cauterize the artery that is severed to prevent you from bleeding out. However the problem arrises when the artery is busy spurting out blood with enough force to hit the wall across the room how do you get all the granules inside the wound and deep enough (several inches for a thigh wound) and keep them there long enough fro the intense heat to cauterize the wound? The truth is you can’t. Not is a pre-hospital setting. When Quick Clot conducted their clinical trials they did so in a complete Operating Room with a sterile field and plenty of high powered surgical suction units to suck up all the blood in the way (like your dentist so he can see what he is doing) so they can deliver the granules DIRECTLY onto the artery. So basically they created a scenario that in no way could ever be replicated in true pre-hospital let alone combat conditions. There is simply no way you can pour a baggie of granules into a 2 inch deep gash in your thigh while freaking out, screaming in pain with blood squirting all over the place and keep it there long enough for it to truly work. I know of several soldiers who have died this way and it wasn’t pretty, granted they were too badly injured to make it anyway but still the quick clot failed to preform as advertised. Based on this an a mountain of other data the U.S. Army stopped buying it and ordered that all soldiers turn in there remaining Quick Clot packets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9xvIbKBJn4
(note the heavy use of suctioning and a clear field of view to the bleeding artery, 2 things that would not be present in a combat environment)
3) Quick Clot Advanced Combat Sponge (aka Quick Clot 2.0) came out. This is mentioned (briefly) in the article above-‘The more recent version uses a chemical that doesn’t cause as much of a burn reaction, although it can still get hot when it comes in contact with plain water. They’ve also encased it in gauze. Hallelujah!”’-So basically the makers of Quick Clot went back to the drawing board and came up with a formula that didn’t produce as intense heat when reacting with fluid. They also encased this in a gauze bag creating what they called a “sponge”. The idea of this was that instead of having to decreed (scrub out) all the tiny little granules like before all you have to do is simply pluck out the sponge and you are done. This was a good idea and it worked.
4) The problem: Sadly though the new and improved easy cleanup version of Quick Clot produced too little heat to cauterize a wound should you magically be able to place it directly on an artery. Basically this product also fails to do its preformed duties. So no matter how handy it is, it basically sucks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQYhsU3jDb4
5) GOOD NEWS!!!! So for those of you that like happy endings here is one for you. Under the BRAND Quick Clot (remember everybody I said BRAND not the same product) there is a NEW product called “Quick Clot Combat Gauze” This product used an entirely different way to stop bleeding. instead of using heat it uses a special chemical derived from shell fish call Kaolin. It basically helps your body to clot REALLY WELL! So what they did was to impregnate a 4 foot long strand of gauze that is to be deliberately packed into the wound. Since your fingers are physically pushing the gauze into the wound (treat the infection later stop the bleeding now) you are packing the gauze directly onto the artery and more or less plugging it up with super clotting gauze. This works very well in combat wounds (high velocity weapons with a temporary cavity created by a super sonic bullet impacting tissue or wounds that are jagged and irregularity shaped. In short this works really well for really nasty wounds. There is absolutely no heat during this process. I have personally used this and I have to say I am incredibly impressed. I admit that I didn’t believe it would work like all the rest but it appears that the third time was the charm and the studies seem to consistently bear this out. This is the holy grail of bandages that Army Combat Medics learn during the entire course of their training.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAPJCHgtvyA
BOTTOM LINE: before you go an dismiss everything with the name quick clot, look first. If it is just Quick Clot granules or the Quick Clot Advanced Clotting Sponges, skip it and move onto something else. If it is the Combat Gauze buy it and use it often!
As for this article it was very poorly researched and some misinformation here as well. Hope I cleared some things up for everyone.
With all due respect, the article was written by a medical doctor with many years of experience. What he wrote was based on that experience and I don’t find anything in his article that is misinformation. In fact, the information he provided has been backed up by other medical professionals in this thread as well as emails I’ve received. Your experience and information is a little different. Thanks for sharing. No thanks for disparaging an experienced professional.
I think it’s best to take the good Dr’s experience versus that of skysoldiers. I’m not a medical expert by any means, but I’ve had experience with being treated by a 68W like skysoldier. I thank God for that, without a combat medic birdogging us, I’d be dead. The use of the combat gauze mentioned by skysoldier saved my life, plain and simple. Blame it for this post.
Thanks Skysoldier.
I’d like to weight in on this post also.
I’m currently an EMT-B in Massachusetts and also a NREMT for the Army. I just spent the last year in Afghanistan working with a forward surgical team treating over 300 wounded. Quick clot and all varients have their place for MAJOR bleeds as Sky Soldier presented. Quick clot and its varients do not have a place for Minor bleeds at all where traditional methods (direct pressure, pressure point and elevation) would work. Now that being said I agree with the moderators, that direct attacks are not warranted, however the most current research is coming from the military where it is being used extensively. Now in doing some quick checking the Doc that wrote the article is a family practioner and although has worked in a ER may not be up to date with all the current research. Also please remember a poditrist (foot doc) is still a doctor and if he was trained over 30 years ago but has not done any trauma training since would you feel comfy having him work on you? I know a doc is a doc but I’m sure the author would agree not all docs are equal. I believe we can all disagree without being disagreeable. A basic google search of combat lifesaver powerpoint will lead you to the class materials and sites that have the most current research.
Now In my own experience in the military overseas the stuff works as Sky Soldier stated and in talking to civillian ER docs about quickslot and hextend and the likes most are just now hearing about it or have basic information without the experience in using it. Take the pearls of wisdom from our military soldiers and use them to do your own research into if this is a good thing for your own personal needs. I live 20 minutes outside Boston which has amazing hospitals now if im 4 hours to a level 1 trauma center this may be your treatment of choice. Again, you are the best to decide what your specific situation is, I agree take a first aid class, Read an EMT manual for the knowledge as no matter who you talk to there will always be a difference of opinion.
Good basic article.
All my best
PMK252
I’m wondering did Skysoldier even read the article. I made a point to mention the soldier on the battlefield must do what he/she can to save a life. He’s been there, I haven’t. But I, also, pointed out that QuikClot, no matter what type, is never a cure-all. The person with the severe arterial damage is going to need to be transferred to a medical facility. There, the QuikClot must be removed. I’ve done that, I doubt if he has. Then, many times, the artery must be surgically repared by a trauma/vascular/general surgeon, of which I’m not. Neither is he.Where’s the misinformation? Why not, if he wanted to help the reader, just say, there’s a new type of QuikClot bandage, he’s used it, and he thinks it works without the problems of the past types? I learn a lot from my readers and appreciate constructive comments.
And PMK 252, I’m not a foot doctor. I still practice, still see trauma, and I think 30 years of experience is a plus, but I get your point. Although, like most doctors, I try to keep up with current research, I don’t see major trauma anymore. My post was meant to give ordinary people a little information to consider if they ever have the extraordinary circumstance that they have to treat major trauma until they can the person to a medical facility. And to never think of any type of QuikClot as the cure-all/end-all.
Thank you for all the great information. It all makes a lot of sense. I’ve used the quikclot gauze for nosebleeds on my 12 year old son. They work great. (He tends to get frequent nose bleeds that can go on for 20-30 minutes. I know that they can cauterize the vessels, but I’m hoping he’ll outgrow this soon, and the gauze is less invasive.) The problem is that they stopped providing the gauze (especially made for nose bleeds) over the counter. You can still get it through your doctor, but the price has quintipled. I think that I can get many more uses if I buy the combat gauze and simply cut the size I need myself. I have a feeling that it’s the same stuff I used to buy, but it comes in a roll instead. Anyone have any comments on using it for nosebleeds?
Death from nosebleed is rare. I’d say have the combat gauze just incase the nosebleed gets really bad and use gauze and elevation instead.
You may want to talk to the child’s doctor about taking vitamin K to aid the blood to clot. Don’t do this if the child is on blood thinners.
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Hi Survival Mom,
Thank you for that informative article. I’d like to see if I could send you samples of our hemostatic gauze for you to trial. It is 100% natural fiber cellulose. 100% bio-compatible. Here in the US we are cleared for topical use (cuts, scrapes, lacerations, punctures, bloody noses, etc), however in Europe we are approved for internal application (surgeries on the heart, spleen, liver etc). Let me know what you think.
Patrick
sorry use code MOM10 at http://WWW.CELOXONLINE.COM
Lots of good info here. The scenarios mentioned are for extreme cases. I take Plavix and thus bleed quite a bit with a small cut. Today for the first time I used WoundSeal. It performed brilliantly, so for those like me these products are a God send. I live in NY and Emergency Rooms are overcrowded and wait time could be 3 hours. If you come in with an arm hanging by a thread or some such injury someone will look at you quickly. Normally they’re just too busy to attend to you unless you’re bleeding on their floor. Unless you have experienced it first hand please do not doubt what I’m saying. FYI, when you have a dire injury the best thing is to call 911, two things happen…1-you get treatment upon arrival and 2- you get immediate or almost immediate treatment when brought into the ER.
And lastly, don’t take life to seriously……no one leaves here alive.
The arguments about quick clot generating heat are not valid as that formula is no longer used. As far as granular being difficult to clean from the wound,,, simple. Use the gauze ,, the granuals are inferior anyways. Hemostatic agents should be viewed the same as tourniquets and used accordingly
The issue with quick clot is that its not Bad its a tool to use for the correct enviornment and circumstance. A fishing accident or the urban situation outside of a tactical environment. It is however a appropriate tool for dealing with a catastrophic arterial compromise. The right tools are for the rigt incidents-
Been in army for 13 years. Hemostatic compounds and products are to reduce the risk of death. Not make it easier for doctors, medics and nurses to do what they are paid for. The “nurses” story about a man and a fish hook is absolute garbage, obviously if you have ever went fishing. And this “doctor” is clearly a piece of work… “scrubbing” a wound. Nice topic starter author, but you should think these manufactured details through next time.
Nice, please moderate. You know how you do.
Quik clot awesome in the field so what people have to work more in the hospital.
Make sure to get quikclot without Chitosan to use on others chitosan is derived from shellfish some people are allergic.
Given ambance response time plus actual time to getting to a table in the ER too. Its great for gunshots and serious wounds.
Hello,
We came across this review on your blog and we do like your blog! However, the product you mention concerning QuikClot has not been produced since 2009.
Currently, QuikClot products are now in their 3rd generation and are composed of a rayon/polyester gauze impregnated with a mineral called kaolin. Kaolin has been shown to accelerate the body’s natural coagulation cascade and is a naturally-occurring, inorganic mineral that does not contain any botanicals, biological material or shellfish products and does not cause any exothermic reaction or vascular complications. QuikClot is intuitive, with a simple-to-use dressing format, conforms readily to the wound and will not break down or fall apart under pressure. The hemostatic dressing may be left in place for up to 24 hours. To remove, gently remove dressing and thoroughly irrigate wound. Please view our website here for more information: http://goo.gl/c8KbUJ.
Our product is credited with helping thousands of people survive traumatic blood loss every year. It’s used by our military, law enforcement officers, EMS departments and in hospitals throughout the country. We would ask if you could please retract your post or include this amendment. I’d be happy to provide you with additional information if you need it. Thanks again for your help in this,
Z-MEDICA, LLC
203-294-0000 X243 (Office)
203-232-0649 (Mobile)
Christina, I left this post up because even though QuikClot may not sell this same product anymore, it is still in people’s medical kits. I’ll post an excerpt from your comment at the top of the article to alert people about the change but also warn them to take a look at the QuikClot product(s) they own. Thanks for providing this additional information.
Accidentally (of course) cut the tip of my left thumb off last Wednesday. Not a life threatening event by any means, but messy and stressful by household standards. Used a modern QuickClot Sport sponge directly on the wound. Stopped the bleeding immediately. Went to the emergency room for proper care, including tetanus shot and a proper dressing. The QuickClot was stuck firmly, but a few seconds under running water in the sink removed it. The bleeding did start right back, but the ER nurse stopped the bleeding with wound glue, some kind of foam product, and direct pressure. Fortunate to be able to test this product with a fairly minor situation. I’m glad I used it. It caused no problems. And Now I know how it works. I will replace the used QuikClot with a new one.
I almost lost my mind on this post but I am going to keep my temper in check. I do realize this is a Prep-er thing you got going on here so I get it. See If your talking life or death there are a couple things to keep in mind. STOP Major Bleeding Period. Combat Gauze and all Hemostatic Agents are not used on intestines. KEEP them WET and try and keep them clean use plastic wrap being careful about not to much pressure and you should be alright. Other crazy ideas are really impractical and could cause more harm. If you really want to know what to do in crazy situations I would suggest becoming a Navy Corpsman for at least 5 years and request Marine Corps orders and really learn the ways of survival if you can’t get on a treadmill and RUN FAST cause the first caught by the zombies never make it…
A simple alternative to Quikclot and other commercial brand clotting agent(s) has been in your spice rack this whole time. I have used Cayenne Pepper on myself and friends with major booboo(s) and it works everytime with in 10 seconds! It is a lifesaver with NO known side effects every recorded. And it’s CHEAP! You can make your own hemostatic gauze to put into your medic bag for future use as needed.
DIY Hemostatic Gauze Cayenne Pepper Blood Stopper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtGznM_yvZE
I know that this is a old thread but I would like to throw in my two cents. I was in the Army for 10 years. Including probably at least one of the same units as Sky Soldier. Probably not at the same time. The Army has a great saying that the wrong decision today may be the right decision tomorrow.
In my opinion the decision to use a up to date clotting agent, of any brand, on a moderate or sever wound is based more on how long it will take to get to advanced treatment.
No one seams to mention the golden hour of treatment. This is the basic difference of the military first aid philosophy and EMT/ Doctor philosophy. In a city it takes less than 30 minutes to get to a advanced care center. In the Army, even in training it may take well over a hour. In Iraq who knows how long it will take.
I live ten minutes from a trauma center. I will apply a pressure dressing and go to a tourniquet before using a clotting agent. Why? Because the wounded person will be at a trauma center fast enough that they will not lose the limb that the tourniquet is on. The exception to this would be a amputation of a finger or toe. Non life threatening, but very messy.
When out in a remote area, when a tourniquet could result in the loss of limb. Then I will use a clotting agent without a second thought. Especially if it will keep the person walking under there own power. Having to carry someone significantly delays treatment.
Just my opinion.
Thanks for a fascinating thread. Learned a lot. I do disaster medical response including internationally.
JSuggs is right. Think it through (quickly). Are you alone, how fast is the bleeding, how long to reach care?
The right thing to do in a disaster?~ “it depends”. “Always” and “Never” seldom applies. Even if you live near a well equipped ER, a major earthquake, tornado, explosion changes your wait time for life saving care. None of these products are always or never. Start with direct pressure, then do what makes sense with what you have at hand. Natural and man made disasters can resemble combat zones. I keep Quick Clot gauze in my disaster box and in my backpack.
Barbara, you are so right. No two incidents are exactly the same and being able to think quickly on your feet and then respond is as important a having supplies and training.
If you are not trained to use hemostatics, do not use hemostatics. Direct pressure and proper packaging of most wounds will be sufficient. Anything severe enough to use a hemostatic dressing most likely need a tourniquet if it’s an extremity wound or severe bleeding from a junctional wound or torso injury may effectively be treated with a quikclot gauze or equivalent. But what most people miss is the fact that if you are bleeding enough to die then who is really gonna complain about the effects it causes? You would have otherwise been dead without it. It works, it has its place and it is effective. The problem always lies with the people who misuse a product that give it a bad name. I have been in Ems for 17 yrs, flight medic and swat medic and disaster medicine. I worked for many yrs without it as it was not around back in the day but currently is in our protocols and know it works when I need it.
So it would seem in your estimation, in a tactical situation in which a victim has, let’s say a GSW or stab wound to the upper right quadrant, where the liver lies, you think a few minutes of direct pressure is best? You don’t think a hemostatic agent would stop the profuse bleeding associated with a liver wound? I find that reckless and dangerous advice. It is like anything else in the first-aid kit; it’s a tool and it’s appropriate implementation and usage is something rational people need to consider and use if and only if the situation demands. It would seem you recommend direct pressure and calling 911. lol
What I don’t understand is why would you use Quick Clot on something so easy to stop like a small cut on your thumb? Quick Clot was specifically designed to stop MAJOR LIFE THREATNING injuries like a severed femoral artery IN COMBAT. But of course there are such things as careless idiots in this world.
No, there are significant, deep injuries from car accidents, household accidents, injuries while hunting/camping, etc. I don’t believe this article says that Quick Clot should be used on a small cut.
This original article is a good example of people on the internet expressing uninformed opinions as fact. 1 Moms just take a basic first aid class or ask a friend in Emergency Medicine about how to stop life threatening bleeds before buying or evening looking into quickclot or any combat gauze. That’s what it’s for.. Combat! Majority of cases is used and started out of combat use and research. Silly to be writing reviews about products you have no business using. Learn how to use a tourniquet before any of this stuff.
Snce Quikclot and similar brands have products meant for the general public, they would disagree with you.
If you are on a blood thinner and are at risk of possible, uncontrolled bleeding, I believe the Quick Clot gauze or the Brand quick clot is smart to carry with you. Most people with AFib use a blood thinner. They would be wise to carry it with them, in the event of an emergency, especially, if traveling. Eg., flying, camping, etc. It makes sense, to me.
Geeze Louise what a train wreck. I don’t think the doctor or survival mom mislead or tried to make the article present itself in a way to draw clicks.
Was it muddie by extra baggage info? Probably. The fact remains that if you go to like Amazon and read the reviews of clotting agents they are full of well meaning but not so bright people recounting their experiences using the product most of them are events where someone has cut the end of their finger off and instead of using normal first aid they whip out the clotting agent to stop the bleeding.
Lesson learned? People while full of good intentions do stupid things.
Bad guy comes in my house shoots me and with nearest ambulance a minimum 25 minutes away? Dear wife pour the stuff on or better yet use an Isreali bandage or whatever it is we have. My folks and I on a job in Congo and I accidentally whack my leg off playing soccer or whatever pls by all means hook me up! Goofing around with a pocket knife in my shop at home and cut my finger, hand, etc.? Elevate and apply pressure while my wife laughs at me.
Surival mom if nothing else thank you for the article. The internet should be about passing on information or even just opinion. Some of us appreciate those of you who try to inform us even if we feel the need to pick things apart to show our superior intellect.
Here is what I got out of the article pls tell me if I am wrong.
– If you can effectively treat a wound with elevation and pressure and it is non life threatening the old school version of 1st aid still works because tech may change bit our bodies remain the same.
– If you are at risk of bleeding out and medical assistance is not immediate. Consider using a clotting agent if all other methods don’t/work.
I am afraid that Lisa is absolutely correct on Quick Clot or Combat Gauze here.
A Polish team studied three pre-hospital Hemostatic Agents but came up with striking findings. All three has led to shock syndrome in the animal’s heart, lung, liver n kidney. The Polish team virtually packed those items in the traumatic wound for 24 hours for observation as Quick Clot claims safe, not to mention the warning and suggestion from US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR).
Please search for “Safety of the long term application of QuickClot Combat Gauze, ChitoGauze Pro and Celox Gauze in a femoral artery modeling swine – A preliminary study” Polish Journal of veterinary sciences – May 2026. No worry, it is in English and justifies your time for perusal.
My recommendation is that you guys should try to get a pack of HEMO-bandage which innovatively incorporates chitosan in fiber before making it into a woven Gauze. It has least concern of those side effects without compromising the fast hemostatic efficacy of chitosan. It is safer and effective.
I just took the Red Cross’s bleeding control course, mostly because I plan to accompany my husband and kid on rock climbing trips in a rural part of canyonland Colorado. I think that training and knowledge might help reduce my anxiety.
The course says that QuickClot/Celox gauze are products of last restort for life threatening bleeding (uncontrolled bleeding resutling in 1/2 soda can of blood), when tourniquets are unavailable because tourniquets are more effective. The course didn’t talk about the possible sideeffects of these products, presumably because death from a life threatening bleeding makes such points moot. However, when a tourniquet is unavailable, QuickClot/Celox are recommended by Red Cross. The Red Cross sells QuickClot/Celox on its website.
My takeaway from class is to be able to identify life threatening bleeding and if away from medical attention to have a tourniquets (both windlass for adults and large kids and elastic wrap for small kids) and QuickClot/Celox as a backup. My takeaway from this article is don’t use QuickClot/Celox for non-life threatening injuries that pressure alone is sufficient. I’m not clear on the difference between “old” vs. “modern” versions of these products, but I’ll keep reading.
Note: One comment hints at tourniquets contributing amputations. I thought this was true before I took the Red Cross’s class, and now I’m just confused. Red Cross specifically says “NO” – that research shows that tourniquests don’t contribute to amputations. Hmmm.
I’m okay with being confused. Lol. Just means I’m learning, and that I should keep reading more credible sources. At some point I’ll be able to connect the dots. Thanks for posting the subject!
I’m glad you left this article up, with the updates and attached response from QuikClot. I hear a lot about these products from people arguing both sides, and this article helped me better understand the history of the product so I can better sort through the hearsay.
Also glad to know there is an older version that is a different product in practice, so if all I have on hand is something borderline ancient (relative), I have a chance of knowing what I’m dealing with.
As a MFG of wound dressings, I am afraid that I can not disagree with you here.
There are “QuikClot” and “QuikClot Combat Gauze”. The first one was a powder form and made of zeolite which might trigger the thermal injury during application. I guess Z-Medica has suspended its production in 2009. The QuikClot Combat Gauze is the one that we see in the market today. As claimed by Z Medica LLC, it is a piece of non-woven fabric coated with kaolin, the material for porcelain. Kaolin is not a biodegradable material and hence, if you fail to wash off completely after the application, it would stay on your tissue forever. You are exposed to undesirable risk of carcinogen and genotoxicity in the long run, not to mention the impact from high cytotoxicity. Anything that is coated on the surface always has the risk of leaching during application.
The Tourniquet fits only the limbs, not groin, neck, chest and head. When thing goes wrong, dressing is not inferior to tourniquet. In case you have no other choice for bleeding control, use the products contain chitosan which is biodegradable without compromising its hemostatic efficacy.