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New for Your Range First Aid Bag: Xstat Wound Packing System

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The debate has raged for years as to which is better for a “blowout” kit on a range (one designed to treat gunshot wounds): Celox or tampons. Each camp has their opinions and evidence to back them up. But as with most things in life, there’s a tradeoff when choosing one over the other. Neither is ideal. But a new product being introduced seems to bridge the gap between the two approaches, providing immediate wound-packing to prevent further blood loss as well as giving the blood something to use as a structure around which to form the clots necessary to stop internal bleeding. It’s called the Xstat . . .

For those wondering, the argument for the tampon is that it’s a commonly-available cylindrical object that works well when inserted into a gunshot wound and provides some packing material to try and stop the bleeding. While Celox doesn’t pack a would, it’s designed using tiny granules that give the blood a structure to use to start the clotting process, sealing things up pretty quickly. But with the Xstat, you get both the wonders of modern medicine and sanguination-sopping technology in one easy-to-use applicator.

From The Verge:

Xstat uses small, expandable sponges. The sponges — which are standard medical sponges that have been compressed and coated with a hemostatic agent called chitosan — take just 15 seconds to expand once they’re in the wound. They help with clotting and slowing blood flow, while providing enough pressure that no manual pressure is needed. Each sponge is also marked so that it can be seen by an X-ray and removed from the body, though RevMedx is also hoping to create a biodegradable version as well.

As I like to repeat often: immediate treatment is the best indicator of survivability. The sooner you start plugging holes, the better your chances of living are. And where before people needed to fumble with all manner of medical contraptions and tinctures to try and stop severe bleeding from a gunshot wound, now there’s a quick and simple method of getting the packing material where it needs to be quickly while still being able to find and remove it later. That said, it does look like actually using this instrument properly would be rather uncomfortable for both the patient and the medic. We’ll be keeping an eye on how the thing works as it continues testing.

0 thoughts on “New for Your Range First Aid Bag: Xstat Wound Packing System”

  1. I watched the news on these the other night. It seems really neat. They grew while exposed to the air during the news report.
    They started out the size of those little marshmallows you get for hot cocoa.

    I’m trying to score a few samples since they’re made just a few miles away.

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  2. You have no good options, because he already doesn’t like you and they will take it out on you and your daughter, however, if you must try, meet with him and ask what is the security plan? ask him if he thinks the current plans does absolutely everything possible to protect the children? and if not, does it open the school board or him personally to a lawsuit in the event there is a tragedy? then when he tells you to get lost, you send a written letter warning him that school security is inadequate based on such and such state and or federal standards or based on some expert’s opinion and in the event any child is ever hurt he is open to a lawsuit and this letter represents a written notice of his and the school board’s failure to protect……

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  3. Although in CA, I’ve been a teacher since August 1999. My advice: call and ask for an appointment. Go over your concerns. Ask for definitive timelines for responses. If timelines are missed, go to the superintendent and do the same. If the superintendent blows you off as well, call the District office and ask to be put on the agenda to discuss the horrible security situation. If all else fails, use the time at the beginning of meetings to make a statement.

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  4. I know this is remotely anecdotal, but friends of mine who are also instructors have had several students come through their carbine classes with XCRs. None of them performed worth a crap – the guns didn’t run, and when they did the accuracy was atrocious.

    Plus – aluminum, while strong, is a lot heavier than the industrial-grade resins used in the SCAR. So no real advantage there, either.

    Nice looking rifle – not a good one to own, apparently.

    Reply
  5. Mr Farrago:

    What does this post really have to do with “THE TRUTH ABOUT GUNS”? Your ever increasing number of posts regarding you very legitimate concerns regarding police militarization, have nothing to do with TTAG, and belong on a blog about that topic, perhaps THE TRUTH ABOUT POLICE.

    It is clear that beyond your valid concerns on this and closely related police tactics issues, you have some serious issues regarding the police. It would be possible to conclude that you have anger issues regarding the police, and that you actually hate the five-0. I don’t think thats the case, but please, enough with the police bashing. Try keeping the content to TTAG. Just a suggestion.

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  6. Isn’t Gabe Suarez a felon? I dont hate on anyone who likes spending a lot of money to listen to James Yeager run his suck, but dont expect me too.
    I am lucky enough to live far out in the country and shoot whenever I feel like it. I train not I hate saying train, I practice for scenarios that my actually happen. I practiced drawing from sitting down, because if something happens at work I’ll be on my desk. I’ve practiced with my left hand as well, things like this I believe are likely to happen in a defensive scenario, stuff like shooting a knee, or on my back.

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  7. Thank you for this. I’m tired of reading threads and reviews from armchair commandos and gun snobs. There is a lot of good equipment and guns that the SEALs will never carry that none the less will handle well in the civilian world. Every time I see the comment “I wouldn’t trust my life to X” I have to ask how many daily shoot outs these men face on a daily basis. Ridiculous. End rant

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  8. I’ve taken more training, probably, than 95 percent of people out there.

    That having been said, that’s not very much training! I’ve certainly never been to any of those schools you travel to.

    The local gun range has NO trouble filling its basic concealed carry classes (either “Intro to Concealed Carry” for those who know which end the bullet comes out of, or “First Steps” for those who are totally new to firearms), but has trouble getting minimum registration for any of its more advanced courses. The number of courses I’ve NOT taken because they got cancelled for this reason greatly exceeds the number of classes I have taken.

    (As an aside, I strongly recommend regular retaking of classes designed to teach you self-defense law in your jurisdiction. There is a lot of nuance in most such laws.)

    Is training valuable? Yes. Do I highly recommend it? Yes. Is it also expensive? Yes. But even when they are barely trained, I am cheered by every single person who takes those beginner’s classes (especially the women) because they may have a gun with them at some point in the future, and may just vote appropriately as well.

    Reply
  9. Know basic firearm handling rules, and be familiar with your firearm. For the average guy, that’s really all you need. Maybe an NRA basic pistol class. Took one for my ccw, and I really enjoyed it.

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  10. Why would you go to the principal? Principals are middle men. That’s like telling the gun store clerk that Glock shoulda made the 42 9mm instead of .380. He can’t change the policy. Go to the parents, bring pictures, research, videos, stats, and a big ol’ emotional plea. Change some of the opinion. Then go to the board members and discuss it with them, use all of the above remember, emotional plea! Take a dump on every bad security measure they have, show them how it can happen. Make them unsure of their children’s safety as you are. Then go to a board meeting, show all of your case, ask to show and share the TTAG shooter simulation, as well as anything you have on the programs you have. Make it the only and best solution. That will make it work.

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  11. Considering your current relationship with the school, I don’t think you are going to get anywhere on your own. You might want to see if you can get 15 minutes with the CLEO in the area where the school is to talk about your concerns. They would be able to get the conversation going about getting a SRO on school grounds and improving security. Plus cultivating a positive relationship with local law enforcement is usually a good thing in the event that someone in the school decides to pull a pop tart.

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  12. I haven’t read the Chief’s book, but his approach looks sound. If I might toss another book recommendation in the ring, the book, “Combative Fundamentals: An Unconventional Approach” by Jeff Gonzalez is another approach to learning the basics of combative pistol and carbine shooting. Jeff is also an ex-SEAL, and runs Trident Concepts. You may have seen him as one of the coachs on the Top Shot show.

    Jeff’s book is a bit over 300 pages in length, and covers a wide gamut of tips, techniques, and tactics – much of the same material covered in several of his courses at Trident. He’s an excellent instructor, and I think it carries over into his book as well, which has 4.5 stars on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Combative-Fundamentals-An-Unconventional-Approach/dp/097544350X

    Disclosure: I helped edit the book for Jeff, but contributed no technical content. The good stuff is all his.

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  13. This is my shocked face…..oh well, bring it on. I’m not afraid to die. Way this country’s headed to hell, it would be a favor and a relief.

    That is all, you may carry on.

    Tom

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  14. I’ve come to expect better of TTAG. You know, full product test reviews with honest evaluations of the product. Not press releases. Come on! Get out there and test it!

    /sarc

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  15. Even SEALs are limited in terms of how much they can train. They do a load of water training, so their land warfare capability is more limited in comparison to say Special Forces (“Green Berets”) and Rangers, who train constantly at land warfare. And just the same, Rangers and Special Forces are more limited in their water capability.

    No one can be trained for every conceivable threat. Even in Special Operations, some guys become world-class shooters, some world-class martial artists, some wilderness survival experts, etc…

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  16. The cynic in me wants to know if this revelation was reached
    through logic and reason (better late than never at least) or
    if it’s only for political expediency.

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  17. You pour the milk in first so you don’t have to stir; pouring the COFFEE in second mixes the drink and cools it enough to drink right now. Who the hell wastes tea by mixing it with milk?!?!?

    Reply
  18. So in effect Joe is demanding we revert to a time when killing was harder and could only be accomplished by the physically dominant or those wealthy enough to afford life long training, prohibitively expensive equipment, and family connections to legitimize their actions after the fact. Is that about the long and the short of it?

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  19. Training is nice….it “MIGHT” make the difference when things go south on you.
    Then again it might not be worth squat…..ask Chris Kyle, a highly trained SEAL
    and excellent shooter. Oh wait, you can’t, he was murdered. All his training was
    for naught. Situational awareness was lacking therefore the training was useless.

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  20. Man, it’s pretty sad when an American 12 year old girl with a hunting license has more stones than a bunch of British construction workers.

    Reply
  21. I’m pretty sure when kids were growing up during the first 200 years of the US they weren’t afraid and intimidated by guns precisely because they were taught that guns were tools.

    Reply

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