Tampons in a trauma kit?!?!?
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2024
- Do you carry tampons in your trauma kit? How much gauze is actually in a tampon? Is your plan to use use a tampon to control major bleeding from a gun shot wound using a tampon from your med kit?
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THANK YOU! As a woman I've always been baffled by men's weird obsession with tampons in the prepper community. All you have to do is unravel one to see how little blood they hold. The only reason they should be in your preps is for a woman in your life who needs them for their intended purpose.
It's only expensive until you're the one bleeding and telling a stranger to tell your wife and kids that you love them.
Best comment yet!
True! While you are there bleeding out think to yourself how much would I pay to get through this even if I had to borrow it.
No, its still expensive if you simply dont have the disposable income to stock 'proper' supplies. Use what you have, not what you want.
Spring Bloom Think of it this way; which is more important, living, or shelling out a couple extra bucks? Use what you have, but if you are preparing for life threatening bleeding, a couple extra bucks is worth living.
I just put together my first kit and I actually kept thinking this same thing when i was buying combat gauze.
As someone who previously worked in medical implants I feel a need to correct you. Tampons are classified as level 2 medical devices, this means that they must be made and packaged in a staril way. this is the same level of sterilization that bone screws are subject to.
For anyone who sees this, skinny medics advice here is spot on. Tampons ain't so good for trauma. BUT the very small O.B. Tampons the size of a 9mm round are PERFECT for nose bleeds. When your nostril starts to hurt from the stretch and expansion, you're good to go. I have slight hemophilia, so nosebleeds can be a bitch and OB solves it no problem.
Very true and that's why you see football teams and martial arts gyms usually having a box around.
The tampon use came about before the Israeli bandage and packable gauze. It was used by medics and first responders when the only issued bandage was a field dressing. It wasn't used for absorption but for expansion. It was used as an internal pressure dressing. These were also the days where tourniquets equaled a lost limb. It works but is kind of an outdated practice. I've personally seen them work on small caliber GSWs i.e. 5.56
Daniel Frakes and the original tannins had more gauze.
well stated. when i was a young Marine we had an old corpsman who had served several tours in vietnam. he swore by tampons for bullet holes, not instead of, but in addition to field dressings on top.
When I served in the late 70's early 80's, the ONLY thing we were issued for 1st Aid was a medium sized wound pack. Even then, with the far more medical training I had before entering the service, I knew that one bandage would be insufficient to take care of a GSW, much less the effects of shrapnel from other exploding ordinance, a landmine or whatever. We just hoped there wasn't the Golden BB with OUR name on it!
As for a tampon stopping ANY blood flow, that is a mistake to believe in! There is insufficient material to expand and create a barrier in the hopes of plugging a wound unless the wound is really tiny and the tampon gauze is literally JAMMED into the wound like a cork. The fibers are just too small to absorb enough liquid (blood) to create a block to leakage.
If it's all you have then by all means use them but you had better have more than one or two. You're gonna need them IF the wound is from a BULLET traveling at high velocity.
Good Luck with THAT.
But they dont expand.... just stop defending them. They are the worst possible thing you could ever put in a GSW. Just let it go. End the myth
Not for gas but small cuts, abrasions and protective packing for finger injuries. Small, sterile and when rolled out surprisingly effective.
Very enlightening! Thanks for the truth brother.
Happy Birthday D and Merry Christmas!
Outstanding video! Thanks for clearing that up for us!!
Only recently came across your videos and am glad I did. Clear, concise, well reasoned and practical. Thank you SO much!
Good stuff. Great demeanor. Subbed!
Thanks for explaining this issue in this manner. I know it helped me, so I know it will help others understand as well!
I appreciate your point about not liking tampons. While not as space to bleed control efficient I always enjoyed having a dressing that was probe placed and relatively clean to use in conjunction with an external compression dressing. That and if whatever a tampon is made of is enough to bar the gates of hell once a month then a penetration wound is nothing!
Love this video! I'm sure I will be linking to it for years to come!
Way to go great video , this is Corpsman from IG. You don't understand how many times I have had this convo with someone
Love your videos! Went to your website to order from you. Hes right folks this information is free so help the man out.
I just wanted to say thanks for the info, your a great help for your average guy who is putting together a kit.
I heard about this when I was in the Army. I can see how it would come in if an unexpected injury happens and that's the ONLY thing around or near by. But we are talking about in a preplanned out BOB. Why would you put something that's a "last ditch effort" item into a pre thought out, planned for event?? I am SO glad you made this video. The only ones to object to this would be those that put these in and are a little embarrassed about it now and want to try and justify it. LOL Put the absolute best stuff you can in your PREplanned kit. Because it may just be YOU that ends up relying on it! And keep the tampon knowledge in that "wisdom" spot in your brain for just such a scenario that it's the only thing around.
Oneonebravo suggested running water over a tampon to see what happened and said that's why they are used. I tried it and the tampon swelled nicely. Here's where I think there is some limited application to the tampon: it seems like the tampon applicator would allow, in some instances, to get deep into the penetration injury where the blood vessel piercing may be without causing as much collateral tissue damage as sticking one's fingers there would cause. Not to mention less pain. Supplemental gauze could then be packed on top allowing the deep plug to stay in place. Of course it would depend on the wound size, depth, and dimensions. Despite Skinny Medics denouncement, I can still see a use in some limited applications.
Part of the reason tampons make a poor choice. In the early 80's TSS( Toxic shock syndrome) was linked to highly absorbent tampons. Thus the manufacturers reduced the absorption Abilty by a significant amount. Thus the major reduction of TSS cases.
Great information! Going to your store now. Thanks for the video.
One thing I wish you had mentioned is how tampons and pads hinder the clotting process by pulling fluid, blood, away from a wound. That's what that outer layer is designed for. Same principle as a sock liner that pulls sweat off your feet to keep them dry.
...NEVER thought of it THAT way...
Thanks Skinny! Good to know!!
SM, i think you should weigh each of those before and after you soak it in water, to show definitely how much each of those you unwrapped actually absorbed.
More useful information, thank you this is something I was curious about
Great clarification. Thank you.
We used them in Iraq as late as 2004 when I was there as a 91W, 1st Cav dismount with my infantry platoon in Sadr City. We got a lot of practice with them(04-04-04) The only issue we had was the brass hated having to try and find them in the GSW later, we solved that by tying a colored zap strap to the end of the string before applying the field dressing. When it came to plugging smaller caliber or shrapnel wounds while still taking fire and needing to bug out quick, the simple basic tampons worked, bottom line. And unlike the fancier options at the time, we could actually get tampons easily. I always had a handfull in my aid bag, still do. I just now have a lot more of the better supplies too.
Great information. Thanks for sharing.
Great advice as always
Helped so much! I watched an officer on youtube highly recommend using feminine products as such. I thought it sounded iffy, happy I found your channel.
I am a girl so I have them in my first aid kits and bug out bag, the I have them all over the place. Heck I have used them for bloody noses
Hey! I recently started watching your videos 'cause I want to be prepared for my family in case of any emergency. Turns out I was the one who sliced a finger and had to go to the hospital cause I cut a vessel 😂 well guess what? Being prepared worked pretty good, 'cause I live in the middle of nowhere in Guatemala 🇬🇹 and I'm far from a hospital. So, thanks! 👍🏽
I remember years ago hearing about some surgery patients having surgical sponges left behind which lead to infections. So one of the things that I would consider about wound packing with tampons is the possibility that if a patient's wound is packed with more than one will the hospital staff know or even possibly miss one during an emergency? Or how easy would a few tampons stuffed into a wound be easy to remove verses a strand of gauze? They also sell wound packing gauze for a few dollars that has a blue line that x-rays can easily detect.
thank you & Merry Christmas
Thanks for coming out and stating the reason of it in your forum where it will reach a large number of people.
That said, the one time I CAN see it is when your out. with your wife/family, something extreme happens and maybe someone catches a bullet or, more likely, falls on a hike, of a bike, etc. and is impaled by a stick, branc, etc. and the first, closest thing handy is in your wife's purse and then you would immediately start reinforcing that with shirt strips, etc. But, ya, thee could be an odd instance where it is plausible. But if you're "preparing" at all, then buy something worth while.
Thanks fir the great vids. Perhaps, for you've not done it already, you could do a short series focusing specifically on "family emergencies" such as day hikes and bike rides Sunday drives, etc. with the kids where they are traveling extremely light without a number of supplies or a kit. Something kid friendly so they can take care of mom and dad as easily as the other way around.
Just a thought.
Good point! Thank you.
I find it funny that some people complain about how expensive medical gear is when they drop $1000 on a rifle or an optic without thinking twice. The chances of me needing my rifle or pistol off duty is pretty slim. Ive used my own personal med bag on countless occasions just pulling up on a wreck or just being in the right place right time. Those $40 bandages and TQs are cheap when you or a loved one are the ones bleeding out.
Love the vids brother!
Right!
The idea of wound packing is PRESSURE. Tampons expand to absorb blood. Packing gauze is used to put direct pressure on the site of the bleeding and subsequently stabilize a clot. Tampons will absorb some blood, but they will not stop the bleeding.
Agreed, you don’t get much gauze in it, but the original use for the tampon was in WWII to directly insert into a puncture wound (gunshot, knife, etc). Thanks great video this is important to touch on.
I see your point, I think most people say use a tampon because of the absorption aspect! it's small but it absorbs much more than its size... and no it's def not the best thing to use, and there is much better options, but it can work.
When you can get a roll of cling for pennies, there is absolutely no need or excuse to purchase or carry tampons for anything other than your old ladies period. It absorbs nothing more than any of the gauze in the video. It is the exact same material and there is nothing magical about tampons that make them more absorbent than regular gauze. Buy actual gauze for less than tampons and be done with it.
Agree with tacticalDesire, but also not only is there better options for the same price. Tampons and designed for slow bleeds, not I repeat NOT for major trauma.
I think it's good for untrAined people since it's cylindrical and comes with an applicator for easy insertion.
Great info.
thanks for addressing this. i agree but cant agree completely. in my poor man's medical supplies cheap walmart tampons will hold a place as third tier treatment. the vietnam vets that raised me as a young Marine all swore by tampons for bullet entry wounds. it was a different time then. that was back when tourniquets were considered a huge no-no, to be only applied as a last ditch and by trained personnel.
Renaissance MarineTV
Yes, if it's a matter of life or death with nothing better to use, sure shove that tampon in (but be aware that the forces will act to tear open the wound & any forming clots without directing any to stop the bleed) & you'll probably be worse off.
Actually, if you want cheap & easy, get menstrual pads, I'm partial to "always infinite". The lightest, smallest, cheap trauma pad around. If you carry both tampon, pad & rolled bandage, you can create a very effective pressure trauma dressing but don't stick the tampon in, use it on top to direct the forces to the exact spot.
You can even pull out the absorption material inside the pad to use to pack a wound which will work infinitely better then a tampon.
Besides, you'll be any women's hero, if when she runs out of menstrual products & is freaking out, you can just hand her 1 & have no need to embarrass yourself in the feminine hygiene department in the drug store. Win - Win - Win!
Adam
actually, my most basic trauma kits (i have many) consist of 88 cent walmart pads and a roll of vet tape.
A roll of gauze costs less than $1. No need for feminine products no matter how much you try to convince yourself.
First off, I agree with you 110%. But I think the trend for tampons got started more so because of the applicator then the absorptioncy of the tampon. GSW = Round Hole...tampon seems perfect. but like I said, I agree with you 110%.
I am a little confused about your comparison, because it does not even address the purpose of carrying a tampon in the plastic insertion sleeve.
-I, and my SWAT teammates carried them because you could get them deep into a small diameter bullet hole to stop a bleeding vessel that you could not reach with a wad of gauze pressed onto the surface of the wound. We also carried gauze pads for the surface of the wound.
-Yes, a 9" gauze pad or compressed gauze will hold more blood (so will a 5 gal bucket). But how do you get it 4" deep into a bullet hole to clot a deep bleeder?
I'm sold. I'm buying my ifak stuff from your site; you'll show me how to use it. Amazon also has questionable stuff, and your counterfeit tourniquet vid scared the hell out of me.
Tampon use in trauma is ridiculous. If any of your group recommend tampons for trauma of any kind, then they have no idea what they're talking about or what they're trying to prepare for.
QuickClot and Celox are good, Chitogauze is by far the best product I have used for catastrophic haemorrhage. Remember, haemostatic agents are not for bleeding, they are for catastrophic bleeding.
I am convinced.
Thanks a lot bro I have been buying my girlfriend 5x9's instead of tampons, and her wound is getting the absorption that it needs now!
Add adhesive tabs to a 5×9 & you have the modern equivalent of the original pads
Awesome! My question has been answered! Tampons not so good (better than nothing though) and sterile gauze MUCH better! I'll load up the first aid bag with that then. Thank you so much Skinny!
good video. good information
GREAT vid.. Can not wait for more.
Thank you
great video
Ha! Your watch 3 mins. in reads 3:57. Great video, too. I've heard using tampons works well when you use the applicator correctly, but other than that I see no reason to go cheap when talking about life or death scenarios. Thank you for the knowledge and reinforcement!
I have heard that alum powder (what they use for canning and pickling) as well as cayenne pepper (hey say dont burn that bad) which interesting enough works by regulating the blood pressure around the wound work as a bleed stop as well. Those are both very budget friendly.
A Headsup
Alum, yes has been used as a hemostatic agent & wound closure method, especially in the old days... However, if you are going to reach for any household product for said purpose, grab either sulfur or salt... much more effective, commonly available, cheap etc.
I reach for more alternatives medicines then the majority of my colleagues but even I put modern hemostatic agents in my kits with salt/sulfur as my backup. I would probably get sued into oblivion if I poured cayenne pepper in someone's wound.
As for "they saying it does not hurt that much"... They are just saying that because they want to watch you pour cayenne pepper in your major traumatic wound... People like that are not your friends!
The poster before me was right on, modern hemostatic agents are never too expensive when you or your loved ones are bleeding out all over the floor & all you can do is witness their last words.
Adam
P.S. You really should have a few tbsp of alum in your survival & water treatment kits already... Any time you have suspect water as your only option; bag some up let stand for 10 minutes, then suction out the best looking section into another bag, typically the middle. Then add the alum & agitate for 10 minutes, then filter through a cloth or pre-filter before main filtration.
That way, the alum may just buy you sufficient toxin removal to make safer to drink, especially if used in conjunction with dual powder/block activated carbon with electrostatic elements & micron filter.
Right on Adam thanks so much for all the tips and advice. Just regular ol table salt huh? right looks like of to buy Alum for more back up purifying as well. Thanks again, Peace.
yes you can use alum powder but sure as hell is painful in an open would. Gents thing of a shaving cut and using a styptic pencil, yes it stops the bleeding but boy does it sting
I’ve never gone along with the tampon thing but I always figured tampons just had some crazy expansion rate and fluid absorption ability, would like to see the difference.
thanks for the info. I actually had bought some tampons (heath food store type, cotton; yes it was a bit embarrassing to ask questions) and compared them to a roll of gauze for absorption. the tampons won. Maybe I got some super tampons or something, since I know nothing about them. But I will take your word for it.
lol they are good for putting in holes, just not the holes we want to use them for. Happy holidays skinny🎄
I always thought use the tampon to get close to the artery (unless you have a hemostatic agent; ie Qwikclot) and then pack the compressed gauze behind it.
My philosophy is that if you dont have hemostatic agents, you can use em as the first portion of wound packing, followed by normal gauze
I’ve used them to pack an abscess in a pinch, with great results.
well, i will say in the military other people have suggested using it as it does expand and is dense, there is a rumor going around that they are sterile and class 2 medical devices and because they have multiple uses and without the illusion that you only have a few dedicated uses may be the lure. i have them as they are handier for people with little experience to plug a hole right away and then pack it in with the other gauze as opposed to people that are resistant to learn to pack them down.
Yes for a person carrying a medic kit might have options, but I don’t carry things like that all the time. Almost everywhere has tampons and they are useful for stopping bleeding.
Agreed Skinny Medic ....a tampon would be better than nothing... but there are much better trauma supplies to use for the same or even a cheaper price...that take up less room in your trauma kit ....great video !
If you still want to buy Tampons buy them here: amzn.to/2owaLuP haha
Good video.
We used them when I was in high school wrestling to stop bloody noses. They would swell up in the nostril, where tissue would shrink. We only had 5 minutes of blood time in a match, if we exceeded that, we had to forfeit.
But yeah, not the best for serious wounds.
Wow thanks...... it seemed to make sense..... but now that you show and tell it....... more room for better stuff........ Mery Christmas!!
You missed the point of them. The slide in and fit gsw perfectly.
As a medic with over 20 years expience I would never advise anyone to use a tampon for bleeding control, however tampons are sterile. If there is nothing else available yes something is better then nothing, however for a "prepper" you are a plan ahead type of person so there are better options.
I dig your videos but @7:46 had me 😂
“I don’t get it. Will it work? Yes, maybe... probably. Ok, I get it.”
excelent video ...
The granny style tampons with wings work great . Cheap Diapers for large wounds work well also
Cheap, extremely temporary, keep some ScrubStac ( chlorhexidine gluconate) surgical cleaning agent. Alcohol prep pads and some monofilaments... Pretty good as long as you've got hemostats as tweezers to get out any threads or leftovers. As long as you use a good proper sterile saline flush.
Hello Skinny what i think is that the bullet entry wound is a narrow tubular shape that the tampon seems to have the ability to penetrate because its shape and plunger type applicator. That being said I've never had the experience of packing a bullet entry wound but cramming a bunch of gauze with my fat fingers might take some work. I think gauze is great too, I think you need the right tool to match the job. But exit wounds definitely pack with gauze. I'd say whats available will have to do so everyone should be prepared .
Great video! Just curious on how many of each of these materials you might use (on average) to address a single gunshot wound? I know many variables exist, including caliber; but based on your experience, what do you suggest?
Question - what about absorption and expansion? Would have been nice to see a "wet" test. Also - the tampon comes with an applicator for insertion into a GSW....Also what about a full size Kotex type pad for compression bandage?
Possibly no longer current, but UK Police were specifically instructed to NOT use tampons to stop bleeding because of their resultant hugely increased volume which could occlude vascular structures and cause ischemia?
Tampons come in different "flow" ratings. Check out Max or super heavy flow.
As for "sterile" those packages are only sterile b4 opening. It's no longer sterile once your hands touch it.
The purpose of planning is to not fail. Improvisation is not a plan. Improvisation happens because the plans have failed, or because you failed to plan.
When I recently went on a survival course I was utterly disgusted when the instructor recommended tampons be added to a survival kit for use in traumatic injury first aid, giving advice like that can get people killed.
Officer 401 has a video on his channel about how he carries those and pads his theory is you can plug a gun shot wound with the tampon then wrap pads around (the tampon pads) and apply pressure but at that point if I'm an officer I'm not carrieing tampons I'm going to have combat gauze
I carry them in my edc first aid. But only for my bleeding nose. (happens often to me 😶😬)
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT !!!!! THANK YOU.
I had a tenant that left behind a package of maxi- pads, so I thew them in my kit. I suspect they would absorb more blood than a tampon.
.
Every kit should have Tampons.
Someone already figured out how to keep a fleshy circular opening from bleeding-out.
No need to re-invent the wheel.
Get the multi-size packs for multi-sized punctures.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to everyone from Germany =)
amen.....
how about a video on the use of rubber tubing as a tourniquet instead of a real one
It would make sense if is was denser and had a clotting agent infused in it.
ok, since you went this far, what about pads for bleeding?
most entry wounds are smaller than the tampon so you will do tissue damage jamming that thing in and exot wounds are going to be larger, it just doesn't make sense.
I, too, fell into the trap of thinking the use of a tampon(s) would suffice for a GSW or other penetrating wound until I opened up several brands of tampons and actually exposed the absorbent material as you did. Talk about having my eyes opened!
OBVIOUSLY I no longer carry tampons for GSW needs, although I DO have them for the REAL reason in the event a female needs them for, we'll, you know.
That said I cannot believe how hard it is to educate some folks on the fallacy of using a tampon for a GSW. Like so many Old Wives Tales the idea refuses to die! I only hope that those hanging onto them as a primary method of packing a major wound never have to use them for that purpose! You'll have to stuff a LOT of tampons into a GSW to equal even just ONE 5"X9" Abd Pad and I imagine the patient will be MOST unhappy if you continually stick the dispensers into their wound trying to stem the flow of blood.
Anyway, GREAT video and very informative. Keep up the good work and as I need additional supplies, I'll be headed your way.
God Bless an be safe!
You don’t use them for major bleeding. They are for small cuts. I used them to protect bandages on finger injuries etc. any ding dong should know better. Now, in a pinch you can use a super absorbent hypoallergenic sanitary napkin if you don’t have a proper field dressing. They are back ups not what you really want to use if you can find better options.
October 2020 and I'm just now watching this. I wonder if the fact that tampons can leave behind a lot of shredded fibers have any bearing on whether or not they should be packed into a puncture wound.... ? It just sounds like a bad idea. They do come in larger sizes than shown here, but still.... they are made to absorb only the amount of blood lost to menstruation within a few hours, which really isn't much.
At any point are you planning to do a video on the treatment of infants or children with the materials you sell or recommend we buy. I am sure there has to be some difference in the way they are treated from adults?
The Celox gauze/Combat gauze; will it leave a "crust" like thing on the wound like the Celox granules that needs to be cut away in the hospital or does it just help to body to stop the bleeding? I'm talking about SHTF scenarios btw.
There are good quality tampons made of a superior hydrophilic material that can hold and expand 4 times its size, much more then the 4x4, but a disclaimer is that tampons are not perfect for GSW HP or Rifle GSW Exit wounds that's a given, but if its a small caliber entrance wound without an exit wound that I see at the observed point of entry a tampon can be used safely. Is it the best solution? hell no but its better then nothing. Many are intoxicated and many don't want a mess for the family to clean up like with a 12 gauge pressure explosion thru the oral cavity. I was told this by a still conscious suicide attempt in route that the use of the 22lr was premeditated so no brain and scull including an eye or two being a final FU good bye sentiment wall and ceiling decoration for the family, many families think that we take all the body peaces with us but they are mistaken. Family has to clean up or pay a hazmat crew to clean it up for $2k plus. Now days most people research all suicide data they can find before they attempt or initiate. I seen a LEO using a tampon inserted into the small entrance wound made by a 25acp fmj and it worked like a charm. I expect some intelligence among all of our first responders to know "IF" that a hemostatic agent should be used in that particular application. I tell LEOs to bring an extra tourniquet rather then tampons, but a tampon in a small entrance wound is better then just hand pressure. Anyway a great video brother, CO Paramedic
used them for nose bleeds before.
Great video! I'm not sure if I agree about not using a tampon. I think they are great for trauma bandaging. Just don't use a rinky dink tampon like you show in the video - they come in much larger sizes. Your videos are super cool!!! Thanks,
Hey SkinnyMedic, I have a question. The vacuum seal on my isreali bandage broke, should I ditch it and get a new one? They are kind of a pain to get delivered (to germany), that is why I am hesistant.
Love your videos, great for keeping my medical knowledge up there!
Try medtree in the uk they ship allover Europe and great prices
It was actually only about five months, there was a spot in the plastic wrapping where several creases pinched together and a tiny hole formed there. Ill have a look at medtree, thank you for the help :D
Mine has an outer wrapping and an inner wrapping that is also vacuum sealed but transparent. Did your inner wrapping also fail?
If the inner wrapping isn't punctured I would just use a countertop foodsealer and reseal it and keep it while trying to find a new one. In an emergency that would require its use it would be better to have it than none! Same goes for "expired" items. I DO hold onto certain things even when they've passed the expiration period.