New Lifesaving Tool

Algoma District Paramedic Services First in Province to Carry New Lifesaving Tool

Thessalon, ON – 2006-02-01, 10:00 hrs

The relatively new product, which is applied to a bleeding wound, was initially developed for the U.S. military to be used in battlefield situations and is designed to ‘buy time’ for the patient by controlling life-threatening bleeding until they can get to a physician. Quikclot® is carried by many EMS and police services throughout the United States but according to the product’s Canadian distributor, until now only a few Paramedic services in Alberta and the Canadian military have been carrying it in Canada.

“We were excited to learn about this product and felt that it was well worth investing in to be carried by our Paramedics. Even though the product is approved by Health Canada, we first brought it to our local Medical Director for his endorsement. He echoed our interest in the agent and gave us his approval. Our Paramedics were then trained in the use of the agent in December and we are very proud to be the first Paramedic service in Ontario to have it available for the patients we serve”, said Guertin.

The agent is designed to be used when more traditional approaches to stopping bleeding fail. An injury where Paramedics previously would not have been able to stem the flow of blood may now be controlled in a matter of seconds. Guertin said that the first thing he thought of when he learned of this product was the difference it could make for the residents in two communities where Algoma District Paramedic Services has Paramedics stationed but that do not have a local hospital.

“We have Paramedics based in both Dubreuilville and White River that can be on the scene of an incident within a matter of minutes, yet neither community has a local hospital. This means a typical transport time of approximately an hour to get to a doctor. Clearly the need for such a lengthy transport when bleeding is uncontrollable does not bode well for the patient’s outcome”, said Guertin. “Now that we are carrying Quikclot® it can help us avoid that very scenario.”

With the potential for wilderness incidents such as logging and recreational injuries in the Algoma District, there is further benefit to the availability of this new tool.

“In recent years we have worked with local forestry health and safety representatives and others to help develop a network of remote helicopter evacuation sites throughout the district. Having Quikclot® available on-scene is just one more step in improving the care that those injured in remote areas will receive.”

Guertin is also enthusiastic about the positive impact Quikclot® can have on the extended healthcare system and how it can help the doctors and nurses in the local hospital Emergency Departments.

“Not only can we help the patient on-scene with this agent but it will help to stabilize the patient for the receiving hospital. This will make their job a little easier as they undertake treating the patient and making the necessary arrangements for further care including possibly transferring the patient to another hospital for repair of damaged blood vessels.”

“We now have a new alternative to just continuing to try methods that aren’t working in an effort to slow down a critical bleed until we can get the patient to the hospital. This product could easily make the difference between life and death in such circumstances.”

Algoma District Paramedic Services, operated by the Algoma District Services Administration Board, provides Paramedic services and emergency medical coverage to the communities of Elliot Lake, Blind River, Thessalon, Richards Landing, Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River and Hornepayne, as well as their surrounding areas.

– Paramedics serving the Algoma District are the first in Ontario to be carrying a new product developed to stop potentially fatal bleeding and help save lives.

“Quikclot® is a hemostatic agent that can save someone’s life in the event they may bleed to death”, said Paul Guertin, Algoma District Paramedic Services Public Information Officer.