[pct-l] Stitches

[Rod Belshee]

I have carry sutures when traveling in developing parts of the world, either 
to use myself or to hand to medical personnel to ensure it is sterile.

For thru-hiking, I'm comfortable I can patch up most anything with butterfly 
bandages. In the field, sutures are less advised since sterility is tough so 
the wound must be allowed to ooze.  That is also a reason to be careful with 
the super-glue approach -- be sure to leave drainage openings if you use 
super-glue.

Steady Sr

-----Original Message----- 
From: Amanda L Silvestri
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 8:03 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Stitches

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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