Treating Fallen Troops
By: Gwyn Bevel
Updated: March 21, 2013
With life-saving equipment strapped to their backs, they rush in to help fallen comrades on the front lines, but one of the items combat medics carry is something that's stayed pretty much the same for centuries.
These combat medics-in-training are learning how to save lives.
A simple tool helps them do just that.
Dr. John Kragh, ISR tourniquet specialist said, "About three thousand U.S. military casualties have been saved with the tourniquet since the beginning of the war."
The intelligent tourniquet has a pump and sensor system that can be controlled wirelessly.
"It can determine how much pressure it needs based on the limb to stop blood flow. It will always maintain accurate pressure."
It could be carried by medics or even built into uniforms. The wireless vital sign monitor weighs just one pound. It keeps track of basic vitals like heart rate and blood pressure. Wirelessly connect it to a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and you get more detailed readings.
With this system you bring the power of a full vital signs monitor to the front lines," Dr. Jose Salinas said.
With two new technologies that could save troops' lives. The wireless vital sign monitor is FDA cleared and is even available for civilian EMS use, but the device is not yet on the battlefield. Salinas hopes to have the system available for deployment within the next two years. The intelligent tourniquet is still in the early prototype stage.
