Using zeolite as a clotting agent was discovered by Frank Hursey ( Z-Medica co-founder ) in 1984 . Following the September 11 attacks the US armed forces conducted a series of tests comparing different antihemorrhagic technologies , in which QuikClot got the best score . Following these tests , the US armed forces approved its use in Afghanistan and Iraq . QuikClot Combat Gauze utilizes the clotting properties of kaolin to help control and stop bleeding . Kaolin works by activating '' factor XII '' , a protein factor which assists in the initiation of the coagulation cascade , a protein chain reaction which promotes blood clotting as a result of trauma . The active nature of kaolin in the promotion of this process causes it to happen much earlier on than normal , but also at a faster rate . In 2008 , QuikClot Combat Gauze with kaolin was chosen by the CoTCCC ( Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care ) as the only hemostatic dressing to be used by all branches of the US military for compressible hemorrhage not amenable to tourniquet use or as an adjunct to tourniquet removal if evacuation time is anticipated to be longer than 2 hours . Today , QuikClot Combat Gauze is still the hemostatic device of choice of all branches of the military by the CoTCCC . The Department of Defense is funding research to explore other applications of QuikClot products in bleeding associated with traumatic injuries
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Hemostatic dressing