[pct-l] stitches-don't do it

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

This is why I like to keep things simple and not worry too terribly  
much about things that haven't happened that I can't really control  
anyway. My first aid kit contains very little equipment but liberal  
amounts of get myself out of the back country.
On Feb 23, 2011, at 8:10 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> There is a lot of chatter about applying stitches, by folks who  
> have never done it, and don't know the problems involved

> ....

> So, what do do?  We teach never to close (by stitching or gluing 
> (I'm not a glue fan, BTW)) a wound in the field.  I never would.   
> Leave the wound open, but covered. Clean it with plain soap and  
> water (alcohol, bad, iodine, bad) multiple times a day.  Slap some  
> neosporin on it, cover.  They will ALMOST NEVER become infected.  
> They will heal beautifully. You can do a whole lot wrong with this  
> technique, and things will still turn out perfectly ok.