Trauma

Trauma - a decrease in blood volume from a serious or critical bodily injury, wound, or shock.

In trauma situations, victims may have massive bleeding resulting in rapid loss of blood volume and oxygen-carrying capacity. Blood typing and handling requirements, particularly refrigeration, limit the feasibility of using red blood cell transfusions in pre-hospital emergency treatment. Existing alternatives to red blood cell transfusions are limited. In an effort to stabilize trauma patients, emergency caregivers typically administer commonly used intravenous fluids, such as Ringer's lactate or saline. Ringer's lactate consists of water and electrolytes and generally is administered into the veins of patients who have lost substantial amounts of bodily fluids as a result of bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea. Both Ringer's lactate and saline restore blood volume, but do not carry oxygen.

We believe that the product's multi-year room temperature stability, universal compatibility and other properties could allow it to be stockpiled, positioned abroad, and carried or stored in remote locations. These attributes may make it well-suited for use on the battlefield, in ambulances, and in the Strategic National Stockpile, which is a store of medicines kept by the U.S. Center for Disease Control in case of public health emergency.