Surviving Adventure - Exped Team Puts Training in Action

In March 2010, members of the Follow That Fire Engine Team attended the Surviving Adventure course as part of Prometheus' sponsorship of their epic 25,000 mile journey through 27 countries over 9 months.  The Follow That Fire Engine event aims to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support, The Fire Fighters Charity and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Their journey began 16 days ago and on Friday they encountered the type of situation anybody undertaking an expedition dreads.  On the Latvian/Russian border, a 40 tonne articulated lorry crashed into a queue of cars, throwing some through the air and crushing others before veering off the road, down a bank and into a pylon.  The medical training they had received was put to full use as they managed the scene and adminstered first aid.  Chris Moore, one of the FTFE team said,

"We all pulled together as a team in a moment of crisis and performed professionally. .... And to Dr Malcolm Russell and the Prometheus team in Hereford, a huge thank you. Your time, training, equipment and ability was vital to us."

The following is an extract from the blog on the FTFE site: 

"It's hard to say what happened next and in no way is it ramped up to sound heroic. We just did what I think anyone would have done. Steve had organised a triage system for the injured. George and Ben were administering first aid including stemming bleeding and fitting a neck brace. Ross and I went down the bank to the two vehicles that had been flown through the air and were crushed. Putting out small fires I found a young boy alive in one of the crushed cars. With a lot of luck I managed to free him from the buckled seat and pull him out of the car before carrying him up the bank and passing him to Steve. It's now I have to say it dawned on me that we must be dealing with multiple fatalities...."

You can read the full blog here.

New Life-Saving Equipment for Frontline Armed Forces Medics

Armed Forces medics in Afghanistan are now able to use an innovative piece of emergency equipment to help save the lives of wounded personnel.

The state-of-the-art enFlow™ 100 Rapid Blood and Fluid Warmer quickly heats up blood and vital fluids to ensure that they reach vital organs and injured areas fast, without affecting the patient's core temperature.  This reduces the risk of complications such as hypothermia and coagulopathy (the inability for the body to clot after trauma).

Prometheus recently secured a contract to supply six sets, which can be utilised on board emergency medical helicopters, to the MoD, for use in Afghanistan.  A further two sets are to be used for training purposes.

Dr Malcolm Russell, Managing Director of Prometheus said, "We believe that the management of hypothermia in trauma is critically important to the outcome of our wounded casualties on the battlefield, and are delighted to be able to play in part in ensuring that the patient arrives in hospital in the best possible condition".

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said, "We are determined to ensure that our brave personnel, who sometimes suffer the most serious injuries, receive the best possible treatment, even in the most challenging of environments.  The enFlow is yet another example of a life-saving piece of kit that has been provided to treat wounded personnel at the point of injury.

Dr Simon Morris and his team of physiotherapists and sports masseuse have recently returned from supporting the Dallaglio Cycle Slam, a 2700 mile cycle ride through all 6 Nations stadia in aid of Sport Relief.  Reflecting on his trip, he wrote:

"Phew. Finished, completed, home.

3000k across 7 countries, over 250 different cyclists throughout, more than 15 major sporting celebrities all home safely.

5 different physios and masseuse, but only one doctor !

We ran fitness to cycle clinics at daybreak, looked after everyone en route and treated injuries, aching bones and muscles after sunset.

We braved snow, sleet, hail, torrential rain but some days there was blue sky, the sun shone, and made it all worth while.

Injuries included a broken elbow, thumb, neck and back problems galore, painful tighs, knees, calves, even a potentially fractured neck.

We treated over 200 people, handed out over 1000 tablets, cleaned people up, stretched them out.

We kept as many people on the road as is humanely possible, to help in the combined goal of raising over £1 million for people less fortunate than ourselves. 

Throughout all this, the kit from Prometheus was invaluable, and highly regarded by our 5 different physios, sports masseuse and myself, the doctor.

 The travelling circus has disbanded................for now !"

Prometheus Launches New Nightingale Dressing

Prometheus Medical is pleased to announce the launch of its latest technical innovation for care in hostile environments, the Nightingale Dressing ™.  This occlusive wound dressing has a number of applications but is particularly suited to the management of penetrating chest trauma.  The dressing has great adherence (even with a heavily perspiring casualty) thanks to its innovative structure and composition.   Its breathable design helps protect the adherence of the gel when the skin is damp and allows the dressing to remain adherent, often for many hours.  In recent tests it easily outmatched its competitors in a variety of challenging situations.

Of further benefit, the Nightingale Dressing ™ is latex-free, the material used is tried and tested in other medical applications, and the dressing carries the CE mark. 

At 15cm x 20cm, the Nightingale Dressing ™ is much larger than most other chest seals, helping to improve adherence and provide the ability to cover larger wounds.  The Nightingale Dressing ™ does not have a valve, so the user must be capable of diagnosing and managing tension pneumothorax.  The development of a non-valve highly adherent dressing was in response to our customers who struggled to make traditional chest seals stick adequately and who wanted something simple, quick and reliable to use in emergency situations.  The Nightingale Dressing ™ does this and more.  Why stick with a dressing that doesn’t stick? 

The Nightingale Dressing ™ is available as a single dressing or as a box of 50.

• Quick and Simple
• Excellent adherent properties
• Latex-free
• CE marked

Nightingale Dressing ™ - Sticks and Stays Stuck!

Prometheus HEMS Pack for Evaluation by London HEMS

Over the last couple of years, Prometheus has been developing a medical pack which is now available to our customers. The 'HEMS pack' was designed by Dr Malcolm Russell based on years of experience using different bags within different organisations, and finding that none of them were really up to the job.  He wanted a bag that would be robust, logically laid out, modular (to suit the needs of multiple organisations with their own packing lists, etc), comfortable to carry and quick to access all equipment.  The resulting HEMS pack is ideally suited for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service/air ambulance units, BASICS doctors, MERIT teams and even military MERT teams (albeit in different colours!).

Our HEMS packs are now being evaluated by London HEMS where, we know, they'll get punishing use - exactly what they’ve been designed for.  For more information about the pack contact enquiries@prometheusmed.com.

Prometheus Become UK Distributor for LESS

We are pleased to announce that Prometheus Medical Ltd has recently become the sole distributor for the United Kingdom, and Ireland, for the LESS lightweight emergency stretcher system.

Development of a stretcher that limited patient transfer arose from work done by Dr. Hoivik when, as chief surgeon in a Norwegian hospital, his research into trauma patients found that victims experienced injuries in addition to those inflicted during the accident as a result of stretcher transfer during their evacuation and transport.  In 1999 he collaborated with LESS to develop a stretcher system that would accompany the patient all the way to theatre if necessary, without the need for transfer.

 While researching the qualities of thermal insulation, LESS came into contact with the air ambulance staff who had been conducting tests on bubble plastic as material for retaining body heat, as well as being light and transportable. Positive efficiency tests showed bubble plastic performed on a par with state-of-the art thermal insulation equipment, at a fraction of the cost.   LESS then pioneered the design of the thermal bag and thermal hood to provide a system to meet the most crucial needs of emergency response teams.

By evolving the primary benefits of thermal insulation and lightweight build, LESS have developed a system which further enhances the basic performance. The LESS harnesses offer hands-free carrying and securing straps incorporate extra carrying handles. 

When every second counts, the quickest and safest response can make all the difference.  Rescue teams assisting during the earthquake in the Chinese region of Sechuan in May 2008 used LESS stretchers supplied from UN emergency stocks.

LESS stretchers system has multiple frontline applications and are particularly useful for patient evacuation over difficult terrain. Stackable and easily portable at approx 6kg, they are ideal for multiple casualties and major incident planning.  Norwegian Airport Authorities have chosen LESS for disaster preparedness for its 46 airports.  Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Norway’s largest non-governmental organization, will be using LESS in their inter-disciplinary disaster training courses to be held for all Norwegian municipalities.

Please browse our new online shop for a list of products and prices.

Vidacare Launches New EZ-IO LD Needle

On behalf of Vidacare, Prometheus Medical would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a new addition to the EZ-IO line of products, the EZ-IO LD Needleset. 

As all clinicians are aware, there is a growing population of patients that have more tissue over the insertion sites which makes reaching the intraosseous space more difficult.  Whether the excess tissue is due to large musculature, oedema or obesity, the ability to provide Immediate Vascular Access to these patients is more challenging. For this population Vidacare introducing the new 45mm LD Needle set.  The LD needle set has the same patented design as the PD and AD Needlesets currently in use, and will work with all of the drivers.  The LD Needleset is marked with 5mm marks to aid in placement.  Vidacare have also developed a full set of training materials specifically for this product. 

When the EZ-IO was first introduced in 2004, the only needle set available was the AD needle set designed for use on patients weighing 39 kg or more. Thousands of EMS services and Hospitals from around the world have adopted this, and are actively using the product. 

In 2006 Vidacare introduced the PD needle set, designed for use in patients weighing less than 39 kg.  This has provided a significant advancement over the manual IO needles historically used and has resulted in both increased and improved IO access in this patient population. 

The PD Needleset is 15 mm in length, and the AD is 25 mm.  This is effective for the majority of patients but in response to multiple user requests for a longer needle, Vidacare has continued its tradition of being a leader in intraosseous access by producing the 45 mm length LD needle set. 

The EZ-IO LD Needle Set is expected to be in inventory at the end of October and Prometheus is happy to accept pre-orders now.

Prometheus becomes UK Distributor for North American Rescue Products (NARP)

Prometheus Medical is pleased to announce that they have recently become the sole UK distributor for North American Rescue Products (NARP). 

NARP provide an integrated suite of tactical/rescue product lines based on rigorous research, development and evaluation processes encompassing the following areas:

• Personal Protection
• Extraction
• Triage
• Airway & Breathing Management
• Haemorrhage Control & Vascular Access
• Casualty Response Kits
• Trauma Management Accessories
• Evacuation Platforms & Accessories
• Casualty Immobilisation
• Diagnostic Equipment

You will be able to view and order all of these products on our webshop very soon but, in the meantime, please click here to enquire: mailto:enquiries@prometheusmed.com

To view the NARP catalogue click here: http://www.narescue.com/

Prometheus Medical is now the sole distributor of the InSpectra StO2 System for the MOD & Emergency Services.

Prometheus Medical has recently become sole UK distributor of the InSpectra StO2 System to the MOD, Emergency Services and Major Incident market.

The InSpectra StO2 System is a tissue oxygen saturation monitor. It measures oxygen in the capillary bed of muscle (usually in the hand) to give valuable information about perfusion and oxygenation. Recording each 2-second measurement, the InSpectra StO2 System is incredibly responsive and gives clinicians a valuable tool to help measure shock in the trauma victim. Unlike most pulse oximeters which measure saturation of blood in an artery, the InSpectra StO2 System does not require a pulse or blood pressure to make a measurement. It can therefore be used in very low-flow states or even cardiac arrest.

The InSpectra StO2 System is available now!

Baseline Tactical Medical Support Course

Dates for 2008

Olaes™ Modular Bandage and the Blast™ Bandage

As the sole UK distributor, Prometheus is delighted to announce the CE certification of the Olaes™ Modular Bandage and Blast™ Bandage. These outstanding products are already becoming well established in the US as trauma dressings and are now fully available for use in the UK.

The Olaes™ Modular Bandage is sold in the UK as a 4” dressing with novel features that make it stand out in its application in major haemorrhage control. The dressing includes a pressure cup to apply pressure right onto the wound, highly elastic bandage to allow pressure to be applied rapidly and effectively, easy fastening (no complex mechanism or pins) and the dressing itself is packed with 3 metres of removable gauze.

The Blast™ Bandage is unique in being a 20” x 20” pad with an elasticated bandage attached which allows a traumatic amputation or large wound to be dressed rapidly and with ease, and with pressure over the stump to help control bleeding. This is very difficult to achieve normally , but the Blast™ Bandage makes the whole process so much easier. 

Not only useful on the battlefield, these dressings have huge utility in the civilian pre-hospital trauma field where current bandages and dressings are often woefully inadequate in dealing with catastrophic haemorrhage. 

The Olaes™ Modular Bandage and Blast™ Bandage are each priced at £5.75+VAT and are available now. 

Click here to make an enquiry or order.