Israel develops freeze-dried blood powder

JERUSALEM, June 20 (UPI) -- The Israeli army is working with a local company to turn soldiers' blood into a freeze dried powder.

Blood samples are taken from new recruits and processed. In the battlefield, the powder can be mixed with water to treat wounded soldiers, The Jerusalem Post reported Friday.

The development was announced at a first-ever press conference for health reporters, conducted by the head of the Israeli army's Medical Corps this week, the paper said.

Brig.Gen. Dr. Nachman Ash head of the medical corps told reporters if the idea proves itself it could also be adapted to civilian life. He said the company leading the research is Core Dynamics, a biotechnological company active in research and development of thawing and freeze-drying technologies in blood transfusions.

Ash revealed a few other lifesaving devices currently being developed for the army, including a portable device with ceramic pipes that can produce oxygen in the field for wounded soldiers and a battery-operated device that could be used to ventilate wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Ash told reporters the army plans to convert the working models into commercial devices.