Military

Why Tampons Don’t Work for Treating Bleeding Wounds

June 29, 2022Andrew D. Fisher, MD, PA-C, LP
tampon

Photo by Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images.

How the hell is this a topic in 2022? Myths about tampons — used for centuries to passively absorb a few milliliters of menstrual blood — continue to plague first-aid courses everywhere, proclaiming the feminine hygiene products to be field-expedient “miracle” treatments for gunshot wounds. It seems that every other week a post on social media touts the amazing, lifesaving efficacy of a tampon.


The supporters of tampons for GSWs and other penetrating wounds have been #tampoozled.


I have yet to find any confirmable example of tampons ever being used as treatments for life-threatening wounds. Every “case” seems to be anecdotal. One of my favorites is the supposed application of tampons in bullet wounds in the first century. Maybe the Roman legions just didn’t shop at the right arms bazaars.


Bleeding is the leading cause of potentially preventable trauma deaths. Major arteries (like the femoral) can lose between 500 and 1,500 mL of blood per minute. A tampon has a surface area of about 4 square inches and can absorb about 9 mL of fluid. In other words, in less than a minute, an arterial bleed can pump out 100 times more blood than a tampon can absorb or could begin to occlude.


tampon
Illustration by Kenna Milaski.

Instead, make your “miracle” piece of kit a hemostatic dressing. These gauze dressings are impregnated with hemostatic agents and are z-folded and compressed, with a surface area of more than 400 square inches. A hemostatic dressing works to stop a bleed and assists with clotting.


But what if you run out of supplies? Could an emergency pack of tampons suffice in the absence of proven medical equipment?


Actually, the American College of Surgeons has considered this question and recommends the use of clothing for direct pressure on or packing of wounds. The shirt, pants, or socks that you or the patient might be wearing are likely to be of more medical use than a tampon.




Dr. Andrew D. Fisher, a former regimental physician assistant and infantryman in the 75th Ranger Regiment, is a general surgery resident at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or consultations with health care professionals, nor does this reflect the opinions of Fisher’s employer.




This article first appeared in the Spring 2022 print edition of Coffee or Die Magazine as “Doc’s Corner: The Tampon Myth.”


Read Next: Doc’s Corner: How to Set Up Your IFAK for EDC



Andrew D. Fisher, MD, PA-C, LP
Andrew D. Fisher, MD, PA-C, LP

Dr. Andrew D. Fisher is a graduate of Texas A&M University College of Medicine and is currently a general surgery resident at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He served in the US Army as a physician assistant assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment prior to medical school where he pioneered the use of whole-blood transfusions at the point of injury, and contributed to research for the utilization of low titer O-negative whole blood in trauma.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

Army vs. Navy mascot
The Navy Goat vs. the Army Mule: Mascot Origin Stories

For nearly as long as the Army-Navy football rivalry, the academies’ hoofed mascots have stared each other down from the sidelines. Here are their stories.

ukraine long-range weapon
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Has Developed a Long-Range Weapon, a Day After Strike Deep Inside Russia

Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

ambush
7 of the Best Movie Ambush Scenes of All Time

Ambushes make for great action scenes. Here are seven of the best to ever grace the big screen.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, with his daughter, center right, reportedly named Ju Ae, review the honor guard during their visit to the navy headquarter in North Korea
North Korea Launches Missile Toward Sea After US Flies Bomber During Drills

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launch occurred Wednesday but gave no further details, such as how far the missile flew.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved