Review: BloodSTOP

As a mom, and as someone who believes in being prepared for emergencies, I consider a well stocked emergency kit A MUST. First of all, I don't drive, so should one of us be sick, or hurt our self while DH is at work, I need to have the supplies already at home. Even if it's severe enough I need to call an ambulance, I still need to take care of the wound or sickness while waiting the 7-12 minutes minimum for the ambulance to arrive. A person can bleed out in that amount of time!

BloodSTOP iX Hemostatic is a 100% natural fiber cellulose that can help control bleeding for all cuts and abrasions. In less than a minute, the gauze turns into a gel to seal the wound without the discomfort of adhesive and making it non-irritating. Because it's water soluble, it's environmentally friendly and biodegradable.

Each sterile package is individually packaged so not only is it waterproof, you can carry it around in just about any container to have on hand no matter activity you are doing - from soccer practice to white water rafting.

To use, first clean the wound to remove any debris. (Even if you don't see something, there could be something there, so please never skip this important step!) Next, open the packet of BloodSTOP - you can cut the gauze to fit a smaller or odd shaped wound if necessary - and place it on the wound. Apply LIGHT pressure to the wound until bleeding stops completely. If you'd like to, you can apply a bit of water to the remaining BloodSTOP material so it adheres to the skin like a bandage. (I recommend this myself, unless you are waiting for an ambulance who might want to remove the BloodSTOP) Once the bleeding has stopped completely, rise off the excess BloodSTOP by saturating it with water and gently wiping away the gel, being careful not to disturb the wound itself. (Unlike certain other products which the emergency room will be ticked off if you use it, because it's impossible to get off for them to treat the wound!) If bleeding is still continuing, you can apply another layer of BloodSTOP, by repeating the steps - but you may want to consider contacting a doctor or heading to the emergency room if you can.

You can also use BloodSTOP for nosebleeds by cutting the gauze into a small strip, and packing it into the nostril as close to the source of bleeding as possible. If it's not working and your nose is continuing to bleed, head straight to the emergency room as it could be a sign of a very serious injury!

Because BloodSTOP is natural, you can also use it on pet's wounds! Those of you with horses who scrape themselves, or dogs who get into a pickle fairly easily will definitely benefit from keeping it on hand. Be sure to follow the same directions to use it on animals as you would on yourself. (Remember to keep pets from licking it off afterwards!)

I am super happy to add the BloodSTOP to my emergency kits throughout our home, car, and get-out bags. I highly recommend adding it to yours, as well. You can purchase BloodSTOP online via their website, or at drugstores like CVS - as well as through Amazon.com, where it qualifies for free super saver shipping! A package containing 10 sterile packets with two different sizes of gauze retails for around $14.98. It may seem high to those unfamiliar with this kind of product, but it's an incredible bargain - and can be a lifesaver!

I received samples of the product mentioned above in order to share my thoughts on it. All opnions are my own.