A sterile, non-bioabsorbable device made of chitosan (a polysaccharide derived from chitin, the structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans) intended to be applied to traumatic wounds in emergency situations (e.g., road accidents, combat, emergency rescue) to produce a rapid haemostasis by forming a robust plug of gel which is removed after use; it is not intended for surgical use. The chitosan may be intended to provide antibacterial activity, and is available in a variety of forms (e.g., fine particles in a pouch, coated on gauze). This is a single-use device.