

Prolonged Field Care Podcast 236: Hemostatic Agents
Jun 30, 2025
Michael Weissman, a clinical education manager at Celox Medical and former Navy corpsman, brings a wealth of experience in austere medicine. He discusses the criticality of hemostatic agents in controlling severe bleeding and shares insights on the importance of applying pressure and understanding anatomy. They explore various hemostatic products, their activation times, and the impact of coagulopathy on effectiveness. The conversation emphasizes continuous education, practical training, and advancements in technology for effective trauma care.
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Bleeding Is A Hydraulic Problem
- Hemorrhage is fundamentally a hydraulic problem that requires pressure to counteract arterial outflow.
- Hemostatic agents help but cannot replace the need to apply equal or greater pressure at the injury site.
Two Different Mechanisms Work
- Kaolin dressings accelerate the body's clotting cascade by activating factor XII, while polysaccharide dressings form a viscous plug.
- Both types rely on contact and pressure to let clots form and stay in place.
Pack To The Point Of Injury
- Get the dressing to the actual point of vascular injury; packing superficial blood won't stop the bleed.
- Learn where to place packing by studying anatomy and practicing wound exploration.