The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new gel drug called Traumagel. It is capable of stopping severe bleeding in just a few seconds. The development is owned by Brooklyn-based company Cresilon. Traumagel differs from traditional methods such as tourniquets and gauze bandages in that it does not require pressure on the wound and acts instantly. According to the manufacturers, the gel is safe because there is no direct contact with the wound or the patient's blood when it is applied. The product is algae-based and comes in pre-filled syringes. Traumagel is the first gel hemostatic agent of its kind to be approved for use in the United States. When injected into a wound, the gel promotes the formation of natural blood clots that quickly stop bleeding. The drug is expected to appear on US pharmacy shelves later this year.