Cobb County fire department using revolutionary TraumaGel to save lives

Cobb County Fire honored for use of Traumagel to save lives

The Cobb County Fire Department was one of the first agency in the country to use the revolutionary new gel that quickly stops bleeding. The plant-based gel can control severe bleeding in seconds, according to its manufacturer. The founder of the company honored the department for its use of the product to save 15 lives so far.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services has a new tool in its arsenal that is already saving lives.

Cobb County says it was one of six agencies nationwide to participate in a clinical trial of a new gel that controls bleeding in seconds when applied to a wound.

What we know:

In the world of emergency medicine, seconds matter and Cobb County says a product called TraumaGel is a gamechanger that is saving lives in the community.

Cobb County says half of the county’s fire stations now have a new tool in their fight to keep patients alive in emergencies.

TraumaGel is designed to control moderate to severe bleeding. When applied to a wound, it rapidly forms a seal to keep blood in.

Firefighters say it is quicker than trying to use fingers, gauze and other medical supplies.

TraumaGel has FDA clearance and Cobb County has been using it since April. Since then, the agency says it has used it 17 times, saving the lives of 16 people. Those victims had injuries ranging from head lacerations while on blood thinners, to gunshot wounds and stabbings.

Recently, it was used on a firefighter who got a deep hand cut while working a fire. It was the first time the gel had been used on a first responder.

Monday afternoon, the company behind the product recognized two of the firefighters who used it on the injured firefighter.  

Each syringe costs $130.

What they're saying:

"Bleeding control has always been the hardest thing for any of us out here, particularly when you're talking about people that have any type of cuts in the neck, armpits, or especially up in the groin," said Lt. David Kleiman with Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services EMS Training Division. "I push the syringe and just light palm or pressure and the bleeding is stopped."

The CEO of Cresilon, the company behind the gel, presented two firefighters with a challenge coin to honor them for saving the other firefighter with the deep hand cut.

"It's important to mark these moments and to honor the people who are actually out there saving lives," said Joe Landolina, Cresilon CEO and co-founder. "We just create the tools, it's the paramedics and the EMTs that actually save the life with the product that we're doing."

Cobb County is one of the first to utilize the gel. They say their goal is to be innovative for the people of the community. The agency says it compliments other things they do, like blood component therapy.

"I can give blood all day long, and it's not going to make a world of difference if you don't stop the bleeding," Lt. Kleiman said.