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This has some advantages over the existing technique (packing w/ hemostatic z-fold gauze), but some big disadvantages. It's a pretty bulky device, and space is
by JshWright 5y ago
This has some advantages over the existing technique (packing w/ hemostatic z-fold gauze), but some big disadvantages.
It's a pretty bulky device, and space is at a premium on an ambulance. It also has a battery that needs to be maintained. I'm not sure a bulky device that needs routine maintenance (everything with a battery gets checked at least once a day in every ambulance service I've ever worked with) is worth carrying for very rare events. A couple packs of z-fold gauze take up as much room as a few decks of playing cards and would only need to get checked monthly (to see if they had expired).
Even in a place where stabbings are "common", this device is only useful in a specific subset of stabbings where wound packing can be used. If wound is in the torso/abdomen, this device isn't useful (there's nothing to press against), and if it's in a limb, a tourniquet is the right tool for the job.
- polishdude20 5y agoOne possible fix is to not have a battery at all. Make it a hand pump.
- toomuchtodo 5y agoIs there not existing pressure onboard an ambulance from oxygen supply? Or perhaps a compressor air line from the suspension system? I do like the falling back to a hand pump solution, similar to the bags used for providing artificial respiration [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bag_valve_mask https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bag_valve_mask
- nextaccountic 5y agoAt my last ambulance ride I noticed there were separate lines for oxygen and also for regular compressed air, which I suppose is pretty much infinite (the ambulance can gather more air as it is used)
- JshWright 5y agoI've never seen compressed air on an ambulance in the US (not to say it isn't a thing, I just haven't seen it). Ambulances are generally plumbed for oxygen and a vacuum system for suction.
- et2o 5y agoTotally. We use hand pumps for angioplasty, similar idea (but much smaller and higher pressure balloon).
- DoreenMichele 5y agoIt's a pretty bulky device, and space is at a premium on an ambulance. The intended use case is for the police to carry this, not ambulances: He said it was key for the first people to a stabbing, which is often the police, to stop excessive blood loss while they wait for paramedics to arrive. So maybe the debate people are having about this detail is a moot point?
- killjoywashere 5y agoThe typical police cruiser has a much more severe space premium, particularly for first aid supplies. An ambulance is a whole box full of first aid supplies.
- DoreenMichele 5y agoThat is no doubt true. And much more pertinent to the suggested use case.
- dogma1138 5y agoIt’s about the size of a hand drill and can probably be miniaturized further, heck you might not even need to inflate with an electric pump, you can probably have a small electronically controlled valve and a CO2 canister similar to those used for quickly inflating bike tires. The only real issue I see with this is it’s actual applicability most stab victims get stabbed multiple times, often in the same area plugging one hole might not do you good when there are 5 more around it, heck the balloon might exacerbate the bleeding from adjacent injuries.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- Y-Bopinator 5y agoGood luck blowing up stab wounds with CO2 hahaha idiot
- MichaelEstes 5y agoI've been around a lot of police officers in my life and I can count on one hand the number that have even attempted life savings measures when arriving first to a scene that required them
- ampdepolymerase 5y agoThere is the option of a chemical gas generator, which i much more compact than any battery. However it too has a limited operation time.
- davidjytang 5y agoI would wager the bulk could be minimized if ever commercialized.