**************** UNCLASSIFIED/// PRIVACY MARK UNDEFINED ****************
Subject: BOLIN CHEST SEAL (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE//
Originator: COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC)
DTG: 041708Z Jan 11
Precedence: ROUTINE
DAC: General
To: CG MARCORLOGCOM ALBANY GA(UC), CO BLOUNT ISLAND CMD(UC), COMMARFORCOM G-4(UC), COMMARFORCOM G3-5-7(UC), COMMARFORCOM(UC), COMMARFORPAC G3(UC), COMMARFORPAC G4(UC), COMMARFORPAC(UC), COMMARFORRES G3(UC), COMMARFORRES G4(UC), COMMARFORRES(UC), COMMARFORSOC G3(UC), COMMARFORSOC G4(UC), COMMARFORSOC(UC), CG TECOM QUANTICO VA(UC), CG MCB QUANTICO VA SECBN(UC)
cc: CG 1ST MARDIV G-3(UC), CG 1ST MARDIV G-4(UC), CG 1ST MARDIV(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-2(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-3(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-4(UC), CG 1ST MLG G-3(UC), CG 1ST MLG G-4(UC), CG 1ST MLG(UC), CG 2D MLG G3(UC), CG 2D MLG G4(UC), CG 2D MLG(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV G3(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV G4(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV(UC), CG 2ND MAW G3(UC), CG 2ND MAW G4(UC), CG 2ND MAW(UC), CG 3D MLG G-3(UC), CG 3D MLG G-4(UC), CG 3D MLG(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV G-3(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV G-4(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV(UC), CG 3RD MAW G3(UC), CG 3RD MAW G4(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV G3(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV G4(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV(UC), CG 4TH MAW G3(UC), CG 4TH MAW G4(UC), CG 4TH MAW(UC), CG 4TH MLG G3(UC), CG 4TH MLG G4(UC), CG 4TH MLG(UC), CG I MEF G-3(UC), CG I MEF G-4(UC), CG I MEF(UC), CG II MEF G3(UC), CG II MEF G4(UC), CG II MEF(UC), CG III MEF G-3(UC), CG III MEF G-4(UC), CG III MEF(UC), COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC), COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC CDI LID(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC L LP(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC L LPC(UC)
--------------------------------------------------
UNCLASSIFIED//
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/BOLIN CHEST SEAL (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE//
REF/A/MSGIDOC//
AMPN/REF A IS A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL PROGRAM OFFICE (DMMPO) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL QUALITY CONTROL (MMQC-10-1626) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE FOR BOLIN CHEST SEALS (BCS) (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) DATED 25 OCT 10.//
POC/MR. ALLEN SCHWEIZER/TEAM LOGISTICIAN/UNIT:MARCORSYSCOM
/NAME:QUANTICO, VA/TEL:703-617- 2380/EMAIL:ALLEN.SCHWEIZER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PER REF A, THE JOINT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL PROGRAM OFFICE (DMMPO) ISSUED A SAFETY ALERT ON BOLIN CHEST SEALS (BCS). THE BCS IS A STERILE OCCLUSIVE DRESSING FOR TREATING OPEN PNEUMOTHORAX AND PREVENTING TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX THAT RESULT FROM GUNSHOTS, STABWOUNDS, OR OTHER PENETRATING CHEST TRAUMA.
THE TRIPLE VALVE DESIGN OF THE BCS ALLOWS AIR AND BLOOD TO ESCAPE WHILE PREVENTING THE RE-ENTRY OF EITHER, THEREBY ELIMINATING ANY UNWANTED GAS OR LIQUID EXCHANGE AT THE TRAUMA SITE.
2. THE DMMPO TEST AND EVALUATION DIVISION PERFORMED A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EVALUATION ON SEVEN BCS USED TO TREAT CASUALTIES IN THE FIELD. THE EVALUATION FOUND THREE BCS WERE DEFECTIVE. OVERLAY PLASTIC THAT HAS HOLES CUT TO LAY OVER VALVES WERE NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY ON THE CHEST SEAL DEVICE. THIS DEFECT PREVENTS VALVES FROM OPERATING PROPERLY.
3. PER THE BCS MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS, DO NOT ROLL THE BCS OR FOLD THE BCS ON THE VALVES TO FIT INTO THE CARRIER (I.E. CLS KIT AND CORPSMAN ASSAULT PACK). TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE ADHESIVE, WHICH HOLD THE VALVES, WILL FRACTURE AND COME LOOSE FROM THEIR SETTING IF ROLLED OR NOT PROPERLY FOLDED. THE BCS CAN BE FOLDED WITHOUT STRESSING THE VALVE AREA BY FOLDING THE POLYURETHANE DISC OVER THE VALVE AREA.
4. INSPECT ALL BCS TO ENSURE ALL VALVES WILL ALIGN PROPERLY WITH VENT HOLES (SEE IMAGE AT THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR PROPER ALIGNMENT): HTTP:/USAMMA.DETRICK.ARMY.MIL/FTP/MMQC_PICTURES/MMQC-10-1626.PDF).
REALIGN IF NEEDED. WITHOUT OPENING THE PACKAGE, ADJUST THE VALVES INTO PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH PREMADE HOLES USING YOUR THUMBS. IF THE BCS VALVES CANNOT BE REALIGNED PROPERLY, REPLACE THE BCS.
5. INSPECT THE BCS PRIOR TO USE ON A PATIENT AND ENSURE ALL VALVES ARE ALIGNED PROPERLY. IF VALVES CANNOT BE ADJUSTED, PERFORM NEEDLE DECOMPRESSION IN EVENT OF TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX.
6. THE BCS IS A COMPONENT IN THE FOLLOWING MARINE CORPS AUTHORIZED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE LISTS (AMAL) AND MEDICAL KITS.
TAMCN AMAL/KIT QTY IN AMAL OR KIT
C86408 AMAL 636 20
C87458 AMAL 645 12
C86568 AMAL 646 12
C53322E CORPSMAN ASSAULT PACK 4
C80088 COMBAT LIFESAVER KIT 1
7. ALSO, THE BCS HAS A SHELF LIFE OF THREE YEARS AND REQUIRES SHELF LIFE MONITORING. THE FIRST TWO NUMBERS OF THE LOT NUMBER ON BCS PACKAGE REPRESENT THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. UNIT STOCKS OF BCS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE OR EXPIRED MUST BE REPLACED USING MILITARY STANDARD REQUISITIONING AND ISSUE PROCEDURES (MILSTRIP).
8. MARINE CORPS UNITS THAT POSSESS MEDICAL MATERIAL SHOULD DESIGNATE PERSONNEL TO SCREEN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL QUALITY CONTROL (MMQC) MESSAGES AT
HTTP:/WWW.USAMMA.ARMY.MIL/ASSETS/APPS/NALA_QAWEB/NALA_INDEX.CFM. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MMQC MESSAGES IS TO ALERT DOD MEDICAL PERSONNEL OF ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. //
Subject: BOLIN CHEST SEAL (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE//
Originator: COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC)
DTG: 041708Z Jan 11
Precedence: ROUTINE
DAC: General
To: CG MARCORLOGCOM ALBANY GA(UC), CO BLOUNT ISLAND CMD(UC), COMMARFORCOM G-4(UC), COMMARFORCOM G3-5-7(UC), COMMARFORCOM(UC), COMMARFORPAC G3(UC), COMMARFORPAC G4(UC), COMMARFORPAC(UC), COMMARFORRES G3(UC), COMMARFORRES G4(UC), COMMARFORRES(UC), COMMARFORSOC G3(UC), COMMARFORSOC G4(UC), COMMARFORSOC(UC), CG TECOM QUANTICO VA(UC), CG MCB QUANTICO VA SECBN(UC)
cc: CG 1ST MARDIV G-3(UC), CG 1ST MARDIV G-4(UC), CG 1ST MARDIV(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-2(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-3(UC), CG 1ST MAW G-4(UC), CG 1ST MLG G-3(UC), CG 1ST MLG G-4(UC), CG 1ST MLG(UC), CG 2D MLG G3(UC), CG 2D MLG G4(UC), CG 2D MLG(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV G3(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV G4(UC), CG 2ND MARDIV(UC), CG 2ND MAW G3(UC), CG 2ND MAW G4(UC), CG 2ND MAW(UC), CG 3D MLG G-3(UC), CG 3D MLG G-4(UC), CG 3D MLG(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV G-3(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV G-4(UC), CG 3RD MARDIV(UC), CG 3RD MAW G3(UC), CG 3RD MAW G4(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV G3(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV G4(UC), CG 4TH MAR DIV(UC), CG 4TH MAW G3(UC), CG 4TH MAW G4(UC), CG 4TH MAW(UC), CG 4TH MLG G3(UC), CG 4TH MLG G4(UC), CG 4TH MLG(UC), CG I MEF G-3(UC), CG I MEF G-4(UC), CG I MEF(UC), CG II MEF G3(UC), CG II MEF G4(UC), CG II MEF(UC), CG III MEF G-3(UC), CG III MEF G-4(UC), CG III MEF(UC), COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC), COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC CDI LID(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC L LP(UC), CMC WASHINGTON DC L LPC(UC)
--------------------------------------------------
UNCLASSIFIED//
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA CESS(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/BOLIN CHEST SEAL (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE//
REF/A/MSGIDOC//
AMPN/REF A IS A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL PROGRAM OFFICE (DMMPO) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL QUALITY CONTROL (MMQC-10-1626) SAFETY ALERT NOTICE FOR BOLIN CHEST SEALS (BCS) (NSN 6510-01-549-0939) DATED 25 OCT 10.//
POC/MR. ALLEN SCHWEIZER/TEAM LOGISTICIAN/UNIT:MARCORSYSCOM
/NAME:QUANTICO, VA/TEL:703-617- 2380/EMAIL:ALLEN.SCHWEIZER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PER REF A, THE JOINT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL PROGRAM OFFICE (DMMPO) ISSUED A SAFETY ALERT ON BOLIN CHEST SEALS (BCS). THE BCS IS A STERILE OCCLUSIVE DRESSING FOR TREATING OPEN PNEUMOTHORAX AND PREVENTING TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX THAT RESULT FROM GUNSHOTS, STABWOUNDS, OR OTHER PENETRATING CHEST TRAUMA.
THE TRIPLE VALVE DESIGN OF THE BCS ALLOWS AIR AND BLOOD TO ESCAPE WHILE PREVENTING THE RE-ENTRY OF EITHER, THEREBY ELIMINATING ANY UNWANTED GAS OR LIQUID EXCHANGE AT THE TRAUMA SITE.
2. THE DMMPO TEST AND EVALUATION DIVISION PERFORMED A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EVALUATION ON SEVEN BCS USED TO TREAT CASUALTIES IN THE FIELD. THE EVALUATION FOUND THREE BCS WERE DEFECTIVE. OVERLAY PLASTIC THAT HAS HOLES CUT TO LAY OVER VALVES WERE NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY ON THE CHEST SEAL DEVICE. THIS DEFECT PREVENTS VALVES FROM OPERATING PROPERLY.
3. PER THE BCS MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS, DO NOT ROLL THE BCS OR FOLD THE BCS ON THE VALVES TO FIT INTO THE CARRIER (I.E. CLS KIT AND CORPSMAN ASSAULT PACK). TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE ADHESIVE, WHICH HOLD THE VALVES, WILL FRACTURE AND COME LOOSE FROM THEIR SETTING IF ROLLED OR NOT PROPERLY FOLDED. THE BCS CAN BE FOLDED WITHOUT STRESSING THE VALVE AREA BY FOLDING THE POLYURETHANE DISC OVER THE VALVE AREA.
4. INSPECT ALL BCS TO ENSURE ALL VALVES WILL ALIGN PROPERLY WITH VENT HOLES (SEE IMAGE AT THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR PROPER ALIGNMENT): HTTP:/USAMMA.DETRICK.ARMY.MIL/FTP/MMQC_PICTURES/MMQC-10-1626.PDF).
REALIGN IF NEEDED. WITHOUT OPENING THE PACKAGE, ADJUST THE VALVES INTO PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH PREMADE HOLES USING YOUR THUMBS. IF THE BCS VALVES CANNOT BE REALIGNED PROPERLY, REPLACE THE BCS.
5. INSPECT THE BCS PRIOR TO USE ON A PATIENT AND ENSURE ALL VALVES ARE ALIGNED PROPERLY. IF VALVES CANNOT BE ADJUSTED, PERFORM NEEDLE DECOMPRESSION IN EVENT OF TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX.
6. THE BCS IS A COMPONENT IN THE FOLLOWING MARINE CORPS AUTHORIZED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE LISTS (AMAL) AND MEDICAL KITS.
TAMCN AMAL/KIT QTY IN AMAL OR KIT
C86408 AMAL 636 20
C87458 AMAL 645 12
C86568 AMAL 646 12
C53322E CORPSMAN ASSAULT PACK 4
C80088 COMBAT LIFESAVER KIT 1
7. ALSO, THE BCS HAS A SHELF LIFE OF THREE YEARS AND REQUIRES SHELF LIFE MONITORING. THE FIRST TWO NUMBERS OF THE LOT NUMBER ON BCS PACKAGE REPRESENT THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. UNIT STOCKS OF BCS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE OR EXPIRED MUST BE REPLACED USING MILITARY STANDARD REQUISITIONING AND ISSUE PROCEDURES (MILSTRIP).
8. MARINE CORPS UNITS THAT POSSESS MEDICAL MATERIAL SHOULD DESIGNATE PERSONNEL TO SCREEN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL MATERIAL QUALITY CONTROL (MMQC) MESSAGES AT
HTTP:/WWW.USAMMA.ARMY.MIL/ASSETS/APPS/NALA_QAWEB/NALA_INDEX.CFM. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MMQC MESSAGES IS TO ALERT DOD MEDICAL PERSONNEL OF ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. //