Thread: NZ Alpine Hunter :Injury, First Aid training & gear survey (research)

Hi gonetropo,

You might be surprised but he would not be alone in doing so, a few of the survey answers include tampons in the first aid kits.

The principle is that as the tampon absorbed blood it expands and exerts pressure on the bleeding pint and if enough pressure it might be able to stop it. It has certainly been an accepted practice for stopping simple nosebleeds (from the front of the nose as opposed to arterial bleed from the back of he nose which is more common in elderly patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure).THe only problem with using a tampon for nosebleed is that once it is removed the clot tends to come away and the bleeding restarts. Thus, there are now specially made nasal balloons made for this purpose but the survey respondent who carries a condom is on the right track with that.Blowing it up to get the right pressure whilst inserted in the patients nostril might cause a few giggles though.....

A tampon with Celox/ Quick clot covering it liberally is not a bad idea for small deeply penetrating wounds.

( there is now on the market a syringe filled with a quid of sponge which expands and exerts a lot of pressure called the Xstat 12 or Xstat30. They became available in 2015 but are so far really a tactical combat piece of gear, maybe 5-10 years from now they will be part of our first aid kits.)


I am getting lots of people telling me their first aid contents and I will definitely analyse that thoroughly, most of you are pretty well kitted out, and let anyone who is interest know the results