A Twin Cities company is bringing a life-saving product to war-ravaged Ukraine. It’s called “Bleed Stop” and it is a coagulant.
“The head of Parliament told us that we were going to help them win the war because we are stopping bleeding and saving their soldiers,” said Wendy Tahija, Chief Operating Officer at CoAg Medical in Mounds View. “It’s the number one reason they lose soldiers is because they bleed out.”
In addition to saving lives, it is also helping to save limbs. Medics on the battlefield use tourniquets on soldiers hit by bullets or shrapnel.
“If the tourniquet is on too long, then they’ll lose the limb. But with our product, they can put on the tourniquet, and move the soldier to a safe place and then apply the product, and avoid the bleed out," said Tahija.
She said since the war began, Ukrainians living in the United States have reached out to their churches and other non-profits asking for donations of money and supplies, including “Bleed Stop”. They have been working with the government now for several months.
“We have donated over 250,000 units, and brought several hundred units with us recently on a visit, which we personally handed out,” she said.
Tahija says seeing the destruction first-hand in Ukraine was difficult.
“First of all, the Ukrainian people were very strong. They are very strong people,” she said. “They believe in what they are fighting for. They are fighting for their freedom. It’s very touching to see their attitude.”
However, the images were disturbing.
“We saw villages that were completely gone,” she said. “We met soldiers who were injured, who lost limbs, who lost an eye. We heard stories of women and children who were hit. That was all very devastating.”
She said in addition to the donations, the Ukrainian government is also ordering its own supply of Bleed Stop, as there is no sign the war will be ending anytime soon.
