Wound Bandaging?

[ponderosa]

Yeah, Tegaderm and similar stuff are great products. I had some of that leftover from a wound my husband had treated by the hospital wound care team experts; I need to find a resupply somewhere.

 

[SARSpecialist]

Sorry it took long to reply... The normal practice was to only use superglue on incisions that otherwise were symmetrical and would have only required less than 10 or so sutures, and were able to stay clean and needed no surgical debridment, if the wound was jagged/lacerated or a avulsion was noted or needed detailed debridment we would not use the superglue as it would trap in dirt and foreighn materials and set up a pathway for infection. We tried not to make more work for our PA or Docs.. they had enough to do :tinysmile_twink_t2:

SARSpecialist;
I was a medic in the Army for 21 years and we used super glue allot in place of sutures especialy in Combat areas where the injury did not require evac and sutures were too risky due to lack of oral antibiotics; here are another couple options.

For a safer wound-healing glue consider Dermabond. This anti-bacterial form of the substance 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for skin wound closure.

You can also use a semipermeable dressing (Tegaderm, Bioclusive or Second Skin, or New Skin for instance) to cover the wound and attach the dressing to dry healthy skin with adhesive tape. The dressing should be changed every few days. Keep the wound moist until it has healed. A moist environment promotes healing, improves tissue formation and protects the area from infection.



Hi...


Was curious...how do the MDs reopen the Superglued wound after the fact?

 

[ladymtnwalker]

bandaging

I would prefer sterile bandages to wrap my wounds with, although one time while out bicycle riding, my hand slipped off the handle and went between the brake cables on the handle and it was really sharp, and sliced my fingers/hand, my nephew Cody, bless him, he was about 13 then, whips out his pocket knife and sliced off the bottom of his t-shirt to wrap my hand with. I thought that was so sweet. He didn't even think twice either! So I think whatever works at the moment is it.

 

[wvbreamfisherman]

For serious bleeding, make a pad out of the cleanest material to hand (preferably sterile gauze pads and place directly on the wound. Apply direct pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. If the pad soaks through, add additional pads, but don't remove the original dressing.

For longer term, wrap the area with gauze to maintain pressure. You can use an elastic bandage to keep light pressure on a wound, but be careful not to impair blood flow. You don't want a tourniquet, unless it's a choice between life and limb. (Use of tourniquets is a whole different discussion).

Oh, just for those who don't know: Dressiungs are that which you apply to the wound. Bangages hold dressings in place.

 

[mccallum]

If I am bleeding, as in sprouting blood, cover the thing with whatever works and STOP THE BLOOD FLOW!! I and the doc's can deal with infection! My wiwfe and child can not deal without ME!

 

[ladymtnwalker]

When all else fails, sanitary napkins work wonders.

 

[Esperahol]

When all else fails, sanitary napkins work wonders.

Actually, the material used in sanitary napkins got it's start on the battlefield. I have no idea who made that connection, but it works out well for those who have to deal with this.

 

[wvbreamfisherman]

Sanitary napkins work great. We used to actually carry them before the newer wound dressings were readily available.

 

[IndianaHiker]

I was a medic in the Army for 21 years and we used super glue allot in place of sutures especialy in Combat areas where the injury did not require evac and sutures were too risky due to lack of oral antibiotics; here are another couple options.

For a safer wound-healing glue consider Dermabond. This anti-bacterial form of the substance 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for skin wound closure.

You can also use a semipermeable dressing (Tegaderm, Bioclusive or Second Skin, or New Skin for instance) to cover the wound and attach the dressing to dry healthy skin with adhesive tape. The dressing should be changed every few days. Keep the wound moist until it has healed. A moist environment promotes healing, improves tissue formation and protects the area from infection.

These are the products that you want. DO NOT use Super Glue if it can be avoided. The super Glue will do further damage to skin tissue and is not a good idea.

Now I my favorite method to stop bleeding is cauterization. Stick the knife in the fire get it good and hot and sear the wound closed. Stop the bleeding and when the rest of the party sees and hears the howling of your patient they get much less clumsy. You will find that you will have less open wounds happening to others in your party. Who ever said that us old Army Medics were not compassionate enough. Stopped the bleeding and now have injury prevention methods in place.:tape:

 

[Esperahol]

Now I my favorite method to stop bleeding is cauterization. Stick the knife in the fire get it good and hot and sear the wound closed.

I have only used this once and it was because of an extreme situation. I rather prefer bandages to burning myself, but I didn't have a choice at the time. Besides which as damp as everything was infection would have set in sooner rather than later. It hurt like a mofo and the smell didn't help my stomach out at all, but I had to take care of things and move on. So I burned, slathered with a antibiotic paste, and finished the Jim Beam I keep in the first aid kit... for emergencies.

 

[shaun]

I would prefer sterile bandages to wrap my wounds with, although one time while out bicycle riding, my hand slipped off the handle and went between the brake cables on the handle and it was really sharp, and sliced my fingers/hand, my nephew Cody, bless him, he was about 13 then, whips out his pocket knife and sliced off the bottom of his t-shirt to wrap my hand with. I thought that was so sweet. He didn't even think twice either! So I think whatever works at the moment is it.

Awww, that is very sweet. Slicing your finger on brake cables sounds painful. How bad was the cut? I suffered a really bad finger cut earlier in the year, sliced the tip of my finger off, it still feels sensitive 6 months later.

 

[Theosus]

Actually, the material used in sanitary napkins got it's start on the battlefield. I have no idea who made that connection, but it works out well for those who have to deal with this.

Tampons too, from what I read. They were intended to be stuck in bullet holes.

I'm with the other poster, if I'm bleeding, put something on it. If I'm less than 24 hours travel from the hospital, infection is the least of my worries. Just stop the blood.

 

[Esperahol]

Tampons too, from what I read. They were intended to be stuck in bullet holes.

I would really have loved to hear the pitch made for this repurposing.

"So your girl is leaking like secrets out of Red Country - sure you could give her some cotton and a belt, but come on! We're Americans and Americans are better then that! Therefore I present you - G.I. Jane Bloodstoppers!"

Yep. That is quite surely how it all went down. I believe this in my heart.

 

[mccallum]

. . . and finished the Jim Beam I keep in the first aid kit... for emergencies.

I would agree that was an emergency! Besides; JB is also a GREAT PAIN KILLER!!!!!!!:rofl:

 

[Esperahol]

I would agree that was an emergency! Besides; JB is also a GREAT PAIN KILLER!!!!!!!:rofl:

Yes, and it is must less likely to mess up a hike back then say all those lovely military-grade painkillers I could have packed instead. I am so responsible... ah.

 

[shaun]

I was hiking on Saturday and I tripped over a branch. I landed on a jagged stone which sliced my knee open. The bleeding was profuse and I wasn't carrying my first aid kit so I had to use my t-shirt as a makeshift bandage. It done the trick.

 

[Pathfinder1]

I was hiking on Saturday and I tripped over a branch. I landed on a jagged stone which sliced my knee open. The bleeding was profuse and I wasn't carrying my first aid kit so I had to use my t-shirt as a makeshift bandage. It done the trick.

Hi...


I hope that all of us can learn a valuable lesson from your experience, Shaun.