Hemorhage (bleeding) is the leading killer of humans

Blood platelets have one main job: Stop bleeding by forming clots. Sometimes, however, these tiny cell fragments fail when they are needed most – when a person is experiencing massive bleeding, usually due to trauma. Dr. Christian Kastrup developed a potential strategy for endowing platelets with extra powers so they can rise to the occasion and continue coagulation. If it’s proven to work in clinical situations, such “superplatelets” might become a standard part of emergency department supplies, along with bandages, oxygen, and saline. The research was described in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.