One sealed package of Celox Gauze Roll, length of gauze 10 ft., used for the treatment for life-threatening bleeding, MedTrade Products Limited, Crewe, Cheshire, England, 2016

Applied directly to a wound and strong pressure applied for three minutes, Celox™ gauze is used to rapidly stop life threatening bleeding. Designed for use by military medics and emergency services, the gauze is embedded with chitosan, a material derived from chitin found in crustacean shells. When chitosan comes into contact with blood, it makes a gel similar to a blood clot. Once the person is at a medical facility and stable, the gauze can easily be removed. Blood loss remains the most life-threatening part of battlefield wounds. The immediate provision of medical care within the first 10 minutes of wounding, known as the ‘platinum’ period, is viewed as the most important period for survival.