[pct-l] Stitches

[Paul Robison]

Sorry to chime in like this but it is VERY VERY important you don't clean with alcohol if medical attention is not near...
...Secondary infections like gangrene and other worse options are caused by alcohol cured wounds.  Alcohol destroys simple bacteria but t also destroys your body's antibodies in the area, leaving your wound as basically a Petrie dish for whatever the strongest thing there happens to be

Unless broad spectrum Antibiotics are available within a day, DO NOT clean with alcohol.  Irrigate with water and leave he bacteria alone until medical help is around... 

About superglue... Try make a non toxic glue made from polyacrimides<(spelling?). That are inert, but it's like 60$ a tube at amazon.

I'll take a little blood poisoning on the far outside chance that could happen.  Superglue is mildly carcinogenic in the blood stream, but so are thousands of other polymer based products we put on our skin.


... Btw, this is much more important in bush situations,  but assess your own safety... Most likely if you get hurt you'll be found in an hour or two, but in some places it could be a while.  First aid is a seriously important skill and I recommend everyone study what he us marines do for medical attention... Their field medics (navy medics I believe? Unsure) are the best.
Sent from my iPod

On 2011-02-22, at 12:24 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mr Bulk is right, use super glue. Some alcohol can be used to disinfect,
> then close the wound with super glue. The medical industry won't openly
> endorse this, but it's a pretty common practice. There are 2 concerns with
> this though. First, it creates a very well sealed closure to the wound.
> While this is good for keeping things out, it also keeps anything in.
> Irrigate and clean the wound well before closing! Second, the medical folks
> are concerned about the glue being absorbed into the body. While I haven't
> heard anyone say it's bad, it's reasonable for them to err on the side of
> caution. My theory is, we're exposed to so many toxins in modern society,
> the risk associated with using super glue to close a wound is probably
> smaller than the risk of not dealing with the wound.
> 
> I carry a tiny bottle of super glue in my first aid kit. Actually, thanks
> for reminding me of this, I should probably get a new one. Mine is several
> years old. It's unopened, but for $2, I think I'll replace it ;)
> 
> On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 9:09 AM, Nitnoid1 <nitnoid1 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> Super glue may work but you would have to look it up. I've heard it being
>> used in emergency situations far from an ER.
>> 
>> The Incredible Bulk
>> 
>> On Feb 22, 2011, at 8:03 AM, Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I have always been careful while out hiking/backpacking and so have never
>> yet been cut much worse that a scape or scratch, never the less, it seems to
>> me that the possibility of tripping or falling (off a slick log or loose
>> rock cliff or whatever) or impaling oneself with a branch, is a possibility.
>> Even so, I have yet to see in the content list for a First Aid kit, a
>> curved needle for stitching up lacerations.  I would not enjoy having to do
>> this, but I can imagine a situation where a butterfly bandage might not be
>> enough.  It is likewise not hard to imagine this happening some days away
>> from a road crossing/trail head.  Does anyone carry anything for stitches in
>> their First Aid kit or do most people just use regular needle and thread (or
>> dental floss) hoping that will do the trick?
>>> 
>>> Shepherd
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