A special bandage, partly made from crushed shellfish, is helping to save the lives of badly injured troops and civilians in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The bandages are put directly onto combat wounds and become sticky on contact with blood - helping clots develop and rapidly stopping even severe bleeding – a vital medical capability as rapid blood loss is one of the major causes of combat fatalities. The special bandage has been procured and delivered to the front line by Medical and General Supplies Integrated Project Team (IPT), one of the eight IPTs and Groups who are participating in DVD this year.

The easy-to-use bandages contain an active ingredient, chitosan, which is derived from crushed prawn shells. The bandages are carried by many troops as well as medical staff and are simply removed by surgeons when their job is done. They are one of a number of advanced pieces of medical equipment now being used to save lives at the British Field Hospital in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province and are now even included in the RAF’s emergency landing first aid kit for passenger aircraft

Members of Medical and General Supplies IPT responsible for the delivery of the new special bandages will be at DVD on 25th and 26th June at Millbrook. Visitors wishing to attend DVD must pre-register by visiting www.theevent.co.uk.