Eric, a Police Captain, describes his experience using the Emergency Bandage®, in conjunction with a tourniquet, to successfully treat traumatic bleeding.
"... when the hospital staff removed the pressure dressing (Emergency Bandage), I saw that... it had been enough to finish controlling the bleeding down there that the tourniquet was not quite enough to be able to handle."
Greg first used the Emergency Bandage® in 2006 as a military policeman. Greg recalls how he used the Emergency Bandage to quickly and effectively control bleeding from a severe head wound.
"... we got the bleeding stopped rather quickly. It did a very good job of controlling the bleeding, especially with the large amount that comes out of a head wound."
Rick Smith, President and Chief Consultant of Con10gency Consulting LLC, describes how his company utilizes the Emergency Bandage® in its training courses and discusses his 20+ years of field experience with the bandage as a first responder.
"Hands down, this bandage has probably saved more lives than any other tool that is provided to them in their IFAK kit."
Officer Jackie Hernandez recalls how he used the Emergency Bandage® to successfully treat a severe head injury caused by a multi-vehicle accident.
"That bandage is awesome. It works great for all different areas."
Sgt. Anthony Ramon, K-9 Instructor for Reeves County Sheriff's Office, describes how he used the Emergency Bandage® to treat a k-9 who was injured in a training accident.
"It worked great. It provided the constant pressure I needed to stop the dog's bleeding."
David, an Emergency Physician, describes how he used the Emergency Bandage® to treat a neighbor's chainsaw injury.
"... I used this as a pressure dressing to control that bleeding and my neighbor, the patient, did very well."
Chris C., a police officer with Selma PD, recounts an incident in which he and a fellow officer used the Emergency Bandage® to treat an individual with a head laceration sustained during a motorcycle accident.
"He was able to apply it to his head and get enough pressure to reduce the bleeding. That way we could wait for EMS to get there. The individual ended up surviving the accident."
As a Flight Nurse and Emergency Medicine Nurse, Craig carries the Emergency Bandage® on him every day. Here, he talks about its multifunctional capabilities and explains why he values the compact design of the Emergency Bandage.
"It's just convenient, it's lightweight, and it fits well in all of my equipment, in my pocket, in my bag."
A freak accident left Jennifer with a deeply lacerated arm that bled extensively. Luckily, an active bystander was able to stop the bleed with an Emergency Bandage® until first responders arrived, taking Jennifer to the hospital where she received 24 stitches.
"Leonid pulled out this bandage and wrapped my arm with it. Within seconds, the bleeding completely stopped."
As summer wound down in August of 2014, my then 3-year old son was invited to a birthday party at the Jewish Community Center in Houston. I parked near the sidewalk confident we would be safe walking in through the gymnastics doors nearest the party activities. When I say “walk” I mean my son was walking, skipping, and jumping toward the doors. I was locomoting on my two feet and my loft strand crutches which I was very adept at having used them for 18 years.
The kids enjoyed the gymnastics area for the better part of the party. Then it was time to move upstairs for cake. The entire party moved en masse toward the stairs leading to the refreshment area. There is no elevator in that part of the facility, and I go upstairs with my mobility equipment in my hand every day, so I thought nothing of this process. Besides, I had attended many birthday parties in that space without incident. But it only takes once.
A large crowd was soaking up the end of summer at the pool that day, and many had gone through the doors from the pool area dripping onto the tile and up the stairs that I was about to climb. Those puddles that may seem harmless to a healthy person are extremely dangerous for someone with severe balance issues.
Small children and their parents were climbing toward the refreshment area. My son was only a few steps ahead of me. I felt my crutch slide out from under me, I felt my feet slide, but I could not catch myself. My loft strand crutches were stuck on my arms as I fell. The metal cuff on the left crutch went into my arm across my elbow on the inside of my arm. I immediately felt this was not like any other fall. I then saw my own blood shooting everywhere from my arm. I scrambled onto my knees compressing the cut with the other hand, screaming for help. I had no idea if there was anyone to hear me. I stood up in the process scared that cutting myself so deeply there would be as deadly as slitting my wrist. I think someone scooped up my son and took him upstairs with everyone else.
Then, Leonid came up and seemed to be digging something out of his backpack. I can honestly tell you as I am trying to contain the bleeding by pushing my right hand on the left elbow, I really wanted to tell Leonid that I did not need the Post-It Note or whatever else he was digging in his backpack to find. Blood was still going everywhere. Leonid pulled out this bandage and wrapped my arm with it. Within seconds, the bleeding completely stopped. He and another father at the party sat me down on the stairs and spoke to one another over my head. I actually lost consciousness for a few seconds so they made sure I was not injured more than they realized. Somewhere in this Leonid made the joke, “don’t worry, we’ve seen worse.” I asked how that was possible and he told me they had served in the army. I said, “Oh, in the IDF?” And he looked surprised I knew to ask it that way. I may not be bilingual, but when we are at the JCC and the two of them are speaking Hebrew literally over my head I can put two and two together especially as the bleeding had stopped, my husband was on his way, and my son was eating cake none the wiser about what was going on downstairs.
I had an ambulance ride and 24 stitches that day. I can tell you that other than the slightest scar on the inside of my elbow, you would never know anything had happened. The doctors in the hospital and two subsequent plastic surgeons were shocked that I lost no function at all and that no further treatment was necessary.
In case anyone is curious, immediately after the accident I bought loft strand crutches with plastic cuffs and started balance therapy. I now use a cane most of the time as I never want to be in a similar situation again when someone who just happens to have one of the Israeli Emergency Bandages in his backpack might not be there.