Today Ukrainian frontline medics from the 129th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces sent us a message thanking Sunflower Scotland for a box of occlusive chest wound dressings and a box of Israeli bandages. These are professional medical devices, which help to save lives from critical wounds and severe bleeding. Sunflower Scotland wants to share these photos and our most sincere gratitude wish all donors who helped us to buy these supplies and helped to save lives.
Why help medics of the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade?
The 129th Territorial Defence Brigade are from Kryvyi Rih, but now they are deployed in some of the difficult parts of the front, including Avdiivka. Of course, they have many people wounded, and they need urgent help. They have been selflessly defending their country and protecting the lives of women and children. Please check this article on Wikipedia about the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade.
Why occlusive chest dressings are important?
High-quality occlusive chest dressing are highly important in Ukraine, to save lives of civilians and defenders alike. Pieces of shrapnel, metal, stones or glass from explosion, or a bullet, can pierce person’s chest. If this happens, outside air may be sucked into the space around the lungs. As a result, the lung may collapse (open pneumothorax). The person will not be able to breathe, and may die. An occlusive chest wound dressing blocks the air from going in, but allows the air trapped inside to go out. When someone is injured and has a open chest wound, applying a quality dressing can be the difference between life and death.
Why do you need to use very high-quality wound dressing?
It is really important to use high-quality occlusive chest dressing, like Fox Seal, and not some cheap substitute. Why? Because this high-quality dressing can be applied at very low temperatures as low as -18°C (winters in Ukraine are cold!). The strong glue allows the medic to re-apply the patch several times, in case they need to vent the air or adjust it. It is sterile. The package includes two patches, one for the entry wound, and one for the exit wound.
Sunflower Scotland regularly delivers medical supplies to frontline medics in Ukraine to help them save lives. If you want to donate a FoxSeal occlusive chest dressing, buy one from a specialist supplier like UK Tactical or Medisave
What is Israeli bandage?
Israeli bandage is a pressure bandage that is used to stop the critical bleeding, in case of a shrapnel or a gunshot wound in the arm or leg. It applies pressure on the wound – very hard – to stop the bleeding.
Israeli bandage was invented by an Israeli military medic Bernard Bar-Natan. First used for saving lives during a NATO peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the bandage was successfully used during operations in Iraq. The bandage was nicknamed “Israeli bandage” by American soldiers and has been “the bandage of choice for the US Army and special forces (Wikipedia).
If you want to donate Israeli bandages, please get them from UK Tactical or Medisave. It’s not a promotion or anything dodgy, we are not affiliated with these suppliers: these are shops we use ourselves.
Why use high-quality Israeli bandages?
The Internet is full of fake Israeli bandage copies. Do not buy them! We tested fake Israeli bandages from Amazon. The pressure bar (pressure applicator) breaks down, and it is useless. If you buy such thing and give it to Ukraine, when the wounded person will use it, they will not be saved. Only buy high-quality bandages from trusted suppliers.
Sunflower Scotland buys Israeli bandages produced by Fenton Pharmaceuticals in the UK. We delivered a box of Fenton bandages to the medics of the 129th Independent Brigade of Territorial Defence Forces.
If you want to donate Israeli bandages to us, please buy them from UK Tactical.
What is the difference between Israeli bandage and tourniquet?
Both devices are used by the NATO soldiers. An Israeli bandage has a big difference with a tourniquet. They are intended for different needs:
- An Israeli bandage is a pressure bandage. It applies pressure on the wound, and stops the bleeding. A tourniquet stops the bleeding by squeezing the artery.
- An Israeli bandage is applied on the wound, and protects it from dirt. A tourniquet is applied 7-10 cm above the wound (in case of life-threatening bleeding, protecting from dirt is not a priority).
- Minor wounds / severe wounds only: an Israeli bandage can be used for minor wounds. A tourniquet should only be used for the most severe wounds.
- Re-application: an Israeli bandage can be re-applied. A tourniquet cannot be re-applied, it can be taken off only in the hospital.
- Two-persons: an Israeli bandage has to be applied by the second person (medic). One-person / two-persons application: a tourniquet can be applied by the injured person, although it is better if it is applied by the second person.
How Israeli bandage works?
Israeli bandage has a pressure bar, which pushes on the wound. This pressure stops the blood. It is a very simple, but clever system. Please watch a video by Lazarus Training on how to apply it:
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