Armed Forces News

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is working with partners to develop a wrap that hospital corpsmen and combat medics could use to treat traumatic limb injuries that result from explosive blasts. The wrap, called Acute Care Cover for the Severely Injured Limb (ACCSIL), would be used in conjunction with a tourniquet to keep wounds fresh and maintain tissue condition for up to 72 hours. Its outer layer would conform to the shape of an injured limb and stem blood loss, retain body temperature and keep out dirt. An inner layer would release antibiotics and pain medication, and keep tissue from drying out. Teaming with ONR on the project are the Naval Research Laboratory, the Naval Medical Research center, and the Ohio-based Battelle, a research-and-development organization.