I bet some of you must be thinking, I have inflicted, seen, and/or treated numerous gunshot wounds, and there is no way I could have plugged any of them with a tampon! Bear with me here. 2. Where youre anywhere from 5-8-even 10 miles away from the nearest forestry department roads?. In 1931, Earl Haas invented the menstrual tampon most commonly used in the twenty-first century. Even though they are not sterile dressings they are clean. Well examine the evolution of the medical application of tampons, uncovering the surprising history of these products and exploring their innovative use in treating gunshot injuries. While Dr. Earle Haas patented the first modern tampon in 1931, tampons had been used for thousands of years prior to that by women across the globe. In a real world SHTF, how man of us will have enough saline soltion to rise out the left over quick clot? But the tampon has a fascinating and somewhat disgusting history in human medicine. Deryck-PDN. Using applicator tampons can be less messy as the applicator deals with the blood, rather than your finger. The expiration date on the package is the date in which the company can no longer guarantee a sterile product. But thats another article for another time. Your email address will not be published. OUT there? Despite Jax comment below [who, as a woman, is evidently an authority on this subject], it is NOT the tampon which stops the bleeding; it is the passage of time. The idea of inserting a thing that's not a body part into the vaginal canal was actually probably first developed by the Egyptians or at least they're the first ones who wrote it down. Seen first hand of a tampon being used in a gunshot wound. Youre not going to have choices. I assume you are referring to XSTAT? But space-age self-regenerating tampons could be on the horizon, The 5 Zodiac Signs Who Thrive In Dance Cardio Workouts, TikTokers Are Revealing The Truth About "Life-Changing" Moldavite Crystals, TikToks Things I Ate & Survived Trend Will Make You LOL, Heres Your Zodiac Signs Dream Honeymoon Location, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. He said the wound was pretty clean, but it was deep. Thanks for the article. The idea of wound management is to STOP the bleeding, not induce it. They use kotex and tampons because they dont have better on hand. Until you can get to a medical facility at least. After 3 minutes, we will remove the regular gauze by reaching under to the hemostatic gauze and maintain pressure. Dart, Bob. Thank you again. Some of the earliest tampons recognizable as we know them todayintra-vaginal devices made from a string and a wad of something absorbentwere documented in Europe in the 18th and 19th century.. Call a doctor if you think you may have toxic shock syndrome. One was a close quarters ak47 to the side from maybe 10 away. Regardless of how many times it is refuted, one of the many myths surrounding bleeding control that continues to linger, is using a tampon to treat a gun-shot wound. In regard to choosing a product that controls major bleeding, plenty of bandages have evolved from the old few rolls of Kurlex gauze and a six-inch ACE wrap, to what is now considered an actual pressure bandage/dressing. Companies like Tactical Medical Solutions, QuikClot, Celox, H&H, SAM Medical and others have produced some of the most advanced, effective, and efficient bandages and dressings for the treatment of penetrating traumatic injuries in the field and tactical medical industry. Packing a wound is a difficult, perishable, life-saving skill. Have you ever had to open an Israeli bandage in a crisis situation that is in 2 separate packages? Tampons absorb more than just menstrual blood about a third may be vaginal and cervical fluids (depending on how absorbent your tampon is) (1, 2). After the war, Kimberly-Clark began making sanitary napkins from Cellucotton. QC doesnt always stop arterial bleeding, which is why you was a back up plan in that event. This allows there to be pressure against what is bleeding. If only that were true. Actual gauze is pretty cheap. Packing wounds in the field just introduces more contamination into the wound, which creates infection, but that is why they make antibiotics.. saving lives sometimes is a compromise between best practices and absolute desperation. The 'tactical tampon' is not a fancy, 'high-speed' product fresh from the minds of trauma device developers. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. But remember, just because the entrance hole is small, it does not mean the damage behind it is not significant. . One of the first civilizations to use tampons for apparent menstrual reasons may have been the Japanese. If I had been there my first reaction to render aid would be grab gloves, duct tape, scissors & thick pads as well as peroxide. 4. However, as long as the package is still shrink wrapped and airtight it should still be sterile. Once 2-3 inches above the wound, fold over the remainder of the gauze and use it as a pressure pad to continue to apply firm pressure. This was the first commercial distribution of menstruation-related items. They absorb blood. I too am a Sam Huston trained medic, 5th Grp SF. The use of tampons as a medical treatment has also allowed doctors to treat more patients in the field. Your email address will not be published. a regular tampon could absorb approx. As a registered nurse who has done extensive wound care. But there are times that a tampon might be helpfulnot with an arterial bleed but maybe the entrance wound or not a hollow-point or assault style weapon wound in the core of the body. Do Metamucil Gummies Work as Well as Powder. 18th century: The tampon was used as a medical device. I understand your comment about medicine in the civilian vs combat environment, however, both environments have the same objective which is to keep people alive. When treating gunshot wounds, most of the preventable deaths are patients who die from bleeding. Like a number of other products that first came to market in the 1920s, Kotex sanitary pads originated as a wartime invention. Good information for gun shot wounds. If you are making love with your regular partner, he may well feel a difference (because he knows you so well physically). You can thank Nose bleeds probably for helping create this line of thinking. Not a good as a hemostatic, for sure, but the gauze provides a lattice at the edge of the leaky artery to allow the clot to begin to form, same as stuffing a wound cavity with Kerlex, just packed smaller and with a tube to facilitate getting the gauze in the cavity and close to the bleeder. I seen them drag him out and plug it right there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Doctors and nurses were the primary users of tampons to medicate women. Just because something worked once doesnt mean it will work again. You can urinate with minimal undressing just unbutton your pants. Additional students will be charged on the day. Do you know why men can write articles about tampons? Tampons can work under some situations for GSWs; however, they are not ideal. My own experience has been that gunshot wounds range from poking a tiny hole, tearing a giant gash, and bouncing around internally like a ball in a pinball machine (if the pinball opened like a jagged metal parachute). When were tampons invented? Some scholars believe that the name didn't come from its use as a bandage material for wounds in battle, but from its use as a menstrual material, possibly in tampon form, among medieval women. Some gunshot victims only bleed a few drops, but some lose pints if left to bleed. She believes that female care package was sent to Marine X to save our Marine. Next. If youre going to be carrying one or the other as part of your EDC kit, dont plan to improvise plan to win! When tampons were invented? NEARLY SLICING OFF his thumb! In the Napoleonic Wars, the most used firearm in that conflict was the Charleville a smoothbore musket of .69, .70, or even.71 caliber. He said, "Oh, we divided them up and we all have them in our flak jackets, and I kept two for our first aid kit". Leaving a tampon in for too long can lead to infections and rarely cause life-threatening toxic shock syndrome (TSS). A ideal kit for first responders. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration laid down regulations that ensured only trace amounts of dangerous chemicals were used in the production of tampons. A Brief History of Tampons and How They Were Used to Treat Bullet Wounds Tampons have been around for centuries and were originally used for healing. From there, they had to adjust the chemicals used to produce tampons, and defend their products against Federal investigations and lawsuits. 18th century: The tampon was used as a medical device. The use of tampons in treating gunshot wounds has had a positive impact on the medical community, resulting in improved outcomes and decreased mortality rates among injured soldiers. Handling gunshot wounds in an active shooter scenario. I've seen it happen on one occaison. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Due to the occult (hidden) nature of the trauma behind the skin layers, it wont always present obviously or immediately. A tampon is designed to absorb blood [and all those other fluids mentioned in the article]. Your email address will not be published. These people are often the same ones who say tourniquets are unsafe (read our article on TQs here!). Something is better then nothing. In 1931, a physician named Earle Cleveland Haas created Tampax, a tightly rolled cylinder of cotton with an applicator. He told me not to worry about Marine X because every time I send something to him, Marine X thinks it's for him too. I seen them used a couple times on my second tour to Iraq in 2004. you only got so much blood, before you go hypotensive. If you bleed out you wont have time to worry about infection. The nearest hospital? stands for the German for "no pad," or ohne Binde. There are many myths and legends around the history of tampons, but as it often is, the plain facts of history are no less fascinating. On torso wounds, things get even more complicated. There are other methods of packing a wound: all of them are similar in effect. You need to stay hydrated to avoid heat illness, bladder infections and kidney stones. Know the signs of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and how to reduce your risk. Tampons just make menstrual bleeding less messy. If an active shooter breaks out the windows of a hotel and starts shooting into the crowd and you are laying on the ground bleeding, would you want me to yell out Does anyone have a tampon, or, would you prefer I yell out Does anyone have any QuikClot, Kurlex, or Olaes Bandages. Sign up for a membership now! Yet for some reason, people still feel the need to treat patients like they are living in some bad Mad Max remake. That this could be another way to treat pelvic infections did not escape the Egyptians, or the Romans who adopted some of their practices. What is the best less than ideal solution for a less than ideal situation? 2. In a no S*** real world situtaion, who cares if you have a few pieces of sterile cotton in your arm. They successfully slowed the bleeding and got the guy medical attention. He was inspired by a female friend who used an internally-applied sponge for menstrual flow, and informed by his own experience, since doctors had been using cotton plugs for bullet wounds and other secretions for years. Overall, the future looks relatively bright, as long as the tampon can adjust to our higher standards about health, safety, and greenery. They are sanitary but not sterile. I told my son I was really sorry about the mistake, and if he wanted I would send Marine X another package. A myth it is not. What happens if you leave a tampon in for 3 days? I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Bullet wounds tend not to be linear, nor are they tampon sized. Im sure there are other myths that need your expertise. He said it entertained them for quite awhile. The Ambulance Volante Although the name means flying ambulance, it was drawn by horses. So sick of men articles on this subject. Symptoms and signs of TSS may include a sudden fever (usually 102F or more), vomiting, diarrhea, fainting or feeling like you are going to faint when standing up, dizziness, or a rash that looks like a sunburn. Makes no sense to me. But for the record blood-letting was a good idea back in the day too. But that doesnt mean we should be trying to re-invent the wheel! Do yourself and your loved ones a favor: buy a real pressure dressing and take a class on how to use it effectively and efficiently. Cellucotton, the substance used in Kotex (sanitary napkins), was devised for the purpose of improving bandages in World War I. The whole thing comes out, and the process begun again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Unlock exclusive member content from our industry experts. And the sexual revolution in the late '60s and '70s (the ad above is from 1967) brought a new mode of more "feminist" tampons, as critics pointed out that scented tampons were actually completely useless and quite bad for your pH (still true). According to Nelly Stromquist's Women In The Third World, 4th century Sanskrit texts like the Kama Sutra recommended the use of tampons made out of oil and rock salt as contraceptive devices. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. As a result, from 1979 to 1983, over 2,200 cases of tampon-related toxic shock syndrome were reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A few things, though. The x large roll of gauze would be a MUCH more effective wound packing material but he chose the tampon because the gauze would never fit in his helmet and would take up a lot of space anywhere else in his kit. sigmund freud is probably having a siezure in his grave over this tread! According to Dr. Robert B. Laughlin, MD, The use of tampons as a means of controlling bleeding from gunshot wounds was an innovative solution to a difficult problem.. He said that one guy, we'll call Marine X did get a girl care package and everyone was giving him a hard time. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. A tampon is designed to be inserted into the vagina of a female human being in order to absorb menstrual fluids, which are discharged over the course of a few days. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia? Very thin paper or plastic offers little protection to the actual tampon. Deryck-Personal Defense Network. Big difference. This isnt guaranteed but a possibility. Additionally, there could potentially be gunshot wounds that will require anesthesia, open excision, lavage, cautery, ligation, and repair that is beyond the purview of the majority of even medically licensed preppers. What were tampons invented for? If the packing is holding (no pooling or seeping), then replace the regular gauze and wrap it TIGHTLY with some variety of elastic bandage. started digging and here is a good answer. They soaked up unusual (non-menstrual) discharge, or applied medicines and other treatments to the vaginal area. Many thanks for the article. And please explain how a tampon DOES work? Makes sense. Many troops live on themsometimes with their families! That was the extent of the IFAK for WWII and Korea. | Other techniques must be used, I.e. Tampons make the non-life threatening loss of built-up blood a little easier to deal with, and thats all. Each year toxic shock syndrome affects about 1 in 100,000 women. His Facebook page is here. Pushing a tampon into a gunshot would does damage going in , maybe tearing up a damage artery of vein. Photo: author, When using a wound packing simulator from QuikClot; it is obvious that a tampon doesnt come close to filling a ballistic wound cavity. If your not a woman you have no say in tampon use. Tampons do not stop bleeding. 1776: A French doctor described a tampon made from tightly rolled, vinegar-soaked linen that was used to stop the flow of non-menstrual vaginal discharge. According to a study published in the International Journal of Surgery, The use of tampons to treat gunshot wounds has resulted in improved outcomes and decreased mortality rates among injured soldiers.. But the modern tampon faced a bit of an uphill battle. The efficacy of a dressing in saving a life is based on promoting clotting and healing more than absorbency. The tampon would expand in size, thus expanding the size of the wound. The entry was packed with. Tampons are not staying the same, as physicians and manufacturers learn more about the female body, and adjust to the many different occupations women hold in society. Survival Trauma Kits: IFAK, GSW Kit, Blowout Kit What Should Be in How to Treat the Most Common Burn Injuries, Back to History: Top 9 Civil War Survival Recipes, Potassium Permanganate: Why I Still Carry this Old School Chemical, 8+ Places To Avoid Like The Plague When SHTF, Top 6 Survival Rifles And Why You Need One. A pack always begins by immediately controlling the bleed manually with either direct digital pressure directly inside the wound and on top of the artery, or pressure on the skin(over the artery) above(proximal) to the wound. Step 2: Pack the wound with gauze. It was nearly 50 miles away! It is the same diameter as the bullet or the bullet fragments and typically what youll see on the in or entrance wound. In any situation involving an arterial bleed you need a different treatment to ensure that the artery is repaired as quickly as possible (hemostat, etc.). This was the whole point of the article. Youll hear us say it all the time pressure wins the war against bleeding. The initial discovery of the telescoping cardboard "applicator tampon" was developed and patented by the Colorado doctor Earl Haas in 1931, but it was a woman, Gertrude Tendrich, who bought the patent and started to produce it, expanding from sewing tampons at home to distributing them under the now-famous brand name Tampax. Bleeding stops by pressure in most cases, a tampon expands when blood hits it. Wrapping the entire dressing ensures that the bandage is being used to its fullest potential. No a tampon or a small pad is not the greatest thing for preventing an infection long-term.Im now retired from the medical field. Check the wound daily for signs of infection listed below. Remember, the entrance wound is determined by the size of the bullet, it is the wound you can physically see. 7 months ago Reply. So they do not provide any hemostatic assistance. It sounds like what started as truth got modified or adulterated a little each time it was retold until some of the stories circulating today bear little resemblance to the original. They do come with expiration dates, but some last up to four years. With the wound now wiped out, prepare the hemostatic gauze for packing by opening one side of the package and putting the entire package into a pocket, or tucking it into a shirt so it can be pulled out easily section by section. I really enjoy your writings, and have learned alot. So whats it going to be? 3. And, again, it's not for menstrual purposes: it's for stopping baby-making. This is why we assess and treat injuries in the order of Circulation, Airway, Breathing (CAB). In the Napoleonic Wars, the most used . Direct pressure doesnt always work, but its usually the first thing you try. Whats most important is to stop or slow the bleeding. They were initially made of cotton and were designed to be inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Don't. Just don't. It's a common "tactical medicine" myth, so I thought I'd post this. This article gives us CERTs great information. Photo: author. Photo: author, Which of these three products do you want to use to save your life or your loved ones life? Joan Wisconsin Historical Society, WHS-49898. Ill say maybe in Las Vegas. And it's clear that women no longer regard the tampon as an abnormal or controversial choice: the UK government's current plans to tax it as a "luxury" have met with widespread derision. There are plenty of internet experts and sadly, First Aid instructors in NZ who still tell people to carry a tampon in their pack in case of an accidental gun-shot wound. Tampons are typically associated with feminine hygiene, but they have also been used in more unexpected ways throughout history. SURVIVOPEDIA helps people regain their peace of mind by becoming more self-reliant and self sufficient in all aspects of life: from putting food on the table, to keeping your loved one safe, and staying in good health. Tampons have been around for centuries and were originally used for healing. He is comparing a menstrual bleed to and arterial bleed. It is the pressure that stops bleedings, and there are additional mechanical and pharmaceutical tools that aid this. . This does not mean it is in circulation. As nobody's ever written about moss tampons, though, this remains just a theory. The use of tampons to treat gunshot wounds quickly spread throughout the medical community and is still used today. Snip off the bloody excess and discard it, saving the rest of the unused regular gauze for further in the packing process. Photo: author. Have you ever played a game of telephone? Tampons have been used by U.S. Army medics as emergency wound care dressings: This particular story about a wounded Marine saved by a tampon included in a misdirected care package from home is factual. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The technology that has developed far superior products now available to healthcare providers and the layperson alike is unprecedented today. As luck would have it he grabbed the tampons, and my son said everyone was teasing him about "not forgetting his feminine hygiene products". Quite possibly. Carry the correct stuff purchased from a medical supply store. In some cases, such as a .20 or .30, theyre smaller in diameter than a regular tampon. Does the army use tampons? The bullet entered the inner elbow and exit the back. Yes, medics use them on the battlefield, and yes, they are used in the street. When it comes to whether they used actual menstrual tampons, there's a bit of an issue. Im not sure if you are aware the military actually has invested in an a tactical approach using the same technology as the tampon (slight variance as the Militarys applicator uses beads of the same material instead of a large swab). Throughout history, women dealt with their monthly bleeds in the privacy of their own homes or farms. After packing three balls, pack the remainder of the hemostatic gauze in an asterisk(*) pattern to create a tight dome over the bleeder. Another case of "possibly, maybe" in tampon history comes from blood moss, a European plant with pretty unique astringent and blood-stoppering qualities. The theory is that tampons soak up blood so they should be good for hemorrhage control. During a high-stress event, trying to open, deploy, and apply such a small tool with limited fine-motor-skills may prove difficult. New York is a few centuries behind the civilized world). A pressure dressing and duct tape is better than a tampon. If a tampon is the only thing you have use it but do not prepare your EDC trauma pack with them. As a woman, Im here to tell you that tampons dont stop your vagina from bleeding, they just absorb the blood. Here's a list of items you can just toss out from your bullet-plugging gunshot wound medical kit: Tampon. If it is arterial wound then you best get a TQ on or your buddy is going to die. You wrote, Im not going to get into the anatomy of a wound cavity. Why not?! I do carry toilet paper in my truck on a regular basis and a wad of toilet paper will suffice in lieu of a kotex pad. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Granted the artery was not hit. Press the artery to the bone to stop the bleed. Great question! Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? That way the brain can continue working and keep the rest of the body going which is what were after here. Of course having a cool guy A-Bag full of Gucci medical gear is preferred but might not always be available. A search of peer-reviewed medical literature will fail to provide you with any data whatsoever on tampon use. It was often administered in the form of what doctors referred to as a tampon a medical device invented in the 18th century primarily as an antiseptic to clog up bullet wounds. Hornadyexplains it well: In essence, a bullet going through soft tissue has the same effect as dropping a stone into a pail of water. The permanent wound cavity that resulted when a man was shot with a Charleville was vastly different from the wound cavities left by modern rifled firearms firing high-velocity ammunition. The are setrile. Sometimes, both parents and teens may wonder whether tampons will have an impact on virginity. This isnt guaranteed but a possibility. We carried tampons (by the way the word tampon is a shortened form of tamponadewhat we do to blood vessels to stop them from bleeding) once upon a time because we did not have another convenient and quick form of wound packing. The modern tampon (as in a tampon with an applicator) was patented in 1933 by a guy who then sold the patent to a woman who founded Tampax. I suspect that is what has happened here. I would recommend this article that I have referenced below or alternatively the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) guidelines which are reviewed annually and specialize in combat medical recommendations. And it will not stop breasts from growing or cause breast cancer. If youre dealing with a gunshot, what exactly and how are you packing it in the field? The other type of tampon, the no-applicator kind, was invented by the German gynecologist Dr Judith Esser-Mittag, which is the reason they tend to be referred to in the literature as "o.b. You need a fully staffed OR to clean QC out or else your buddy will die of infection, thats if the QC doesnt break apart. Experts note that free bleeding has no proven health benefits. Say I am at a concert. It doesnt control bleeding from the uterus. Other innovations related to comfort and ease of use are saturation indicators (so women know when to change), differently-shaped tampons to prevent leaks, reusable applicators to help the environment, biodegradable tampons (also to reduce environmental footprint), and so forth. JavaScript is disabled. Your email address will not be published. The brain requires several of these things in order to keep the rest of the body alive. I know for a fact a finger in the wound will plug it and possibly save your life. Scarily, this is often shared as anecdotes by people who have never had to treat a gun-shot wound. most of the cops I knew, at least those that took the job seriously, had go bags with medicial/first aid kits with these things in there. Providing first aid to victims till they could be treated by the Paramedics should take priority. PSA DON'T USE TAMPONS FOR GUNSHOT WOUNDS. Earle Haas patented the first modern tampon in 1931, tampons had been used for thousands of years prior to that by women across the globe. Not much use for periods, though. Sleeping in a bra will not make a girls breasts perkier or prevent them from getting saggy. On injuries like this, a tampon would just get lost in the damage. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. I worked for a police department with a force of over 500 officers. Cache Valley Prepper is the CEO of Survival Sensei, LLC, a freelance author, writer, survival instructor, consultant and the director of the Survival Brain Trust. Take a Xanax Jax. Home and travel first aid kit should carry these types of wound care products. Also, tampons absorb blood. Even ER doctors misdiagnose tension pneumothorax about 30% of the time, so if your medical training consists of a few basic certifications like first aid, WFR, WEMT, and maybe a couple of tactical trauma classes, you could end up doing more harm than good with a chest dart or performing a cricothyrotomy. It was issued to every Marine as part of his 782 gear. 1st they are hard to open and know how to use, really? However, in addition to menstrual blood, the tampon also absorbs the vagina's natural . IF the wound is linear and tampon sized, then a tampon will work. Much ado about not much. 9g of blood, stop an arterial bleed, capable of pumping out 1000 mLs in just over 3 minutes, https://www.crisis-medicine.com/heavy-flow-is-not-massive-hemorrhage-tampons-dont-belong-in-ifaks/.
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