Cut kit? Efficient cut first aid kits/techniques?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
I don't cut myself often, but on occasion, if I've been drinking and playing with my knives...

(I know. I know. Stupid.)

Did you know that if you have alcohol in your system that it's MUCH, MUCH, harder to stop bleeding?

I know that. BELIEVE ME, I know that! It's easily TWICE as hard to stop bleeding with a lot of alcohol in your system.

I was wondering if anyone keeps some sort of "cut kit" in their home?
What's a good way to close a cut?
The best way I've ever seen was when a woman at work cut bandaids into butterflies and closed a cut for me very successfully.

The sight of blood usually doesn't bother me, but there has been a time or two when I've cut myself (on my hand) kind of badly and I can't close it quickly and I get a little woosey after a few minutes. I still don't understand why that would happen to me. I'm usually so good about that kind of thing. I'm fairly tough about that sort of thing. It surprised me.

Let's hear some good suggestions of some good first-aid kits for cuts. Especially ones that can be accessed and performed efficently and quickly.
BETTER YET, let's hear some techniques for quickly closing cuts. Especially those accidental finger cuts that happen to us knife-lovers sometimes.
 
Nobody knows more about getting cut than balisong artists.

First, cuts do heal faster when treated with Neosporin ointment. (Some people are serioously alergic to Neomyacin, the Neo in Neosporin. These people should use a double antibiotic cream available next to the Noesporin in drug stores everywhere.)

3M Active Strips are the best strip bandages.

The active ingredient in Afrin nasal spray is a vaseoconstrictor (sp?) and caused blood vessels to constrict. This will reduce and/or stop bleeding. So, rinse cuts with this stuff and the bleeding will stop quickly.

Many people like to use "Super Glue" or similar cynoacrylic ester glues. But, the cyno in cynoacrylic is for Cyanide.... very poisonous. Yes, there is a medical version of super glue that doctors often use. But, it's intended for use in special circumstances, not every day.
 
Well, In general I have a few waterproof bandaids in my wallet,
but the best way I found to close cuts is with superglue. I know, sounds icky, but believe me, they do use it for medical reasons too only then they colour it purple. Superglue or cyanoacrylate doesn't mix with water or blood, it hardens rather fast, is dis-infectant and closes the wound hermetically.
In fact, they devellopped cyanoacrylate as a emergency wound closer for medics in Vietnam.
After you used it a few times, you can be much more accurate and create a much smaller scar then the scar you would have had if you would have used a bandaid.


Greetz and take care, Bart.
 
You mad fool, don't you know only Kliff can drink and knife!

I remember from sports days not being allowed to drink after a match because Alcohol increases peripheral circulation through dilating the capillaries, maiking it easier for cuts to bleed externally and bruises internally.

But hey - who wants to die without any scars?
 
Clean it, apply direct pressure with a bandage, and elevate the extremity until the bleeding stops. If the wound is deep, you should have it checked out and closed by a doctor. The Super Glue is fine, it is used every day in Emergency Rooms around the country. You don't have to worry about cyanide poisoning (just don't drink it, duh!) The medical version, commonly known as Dermabond, has a chemical name 2-octyl cyanoacrylate. You can also buy Band Aid's brand called Liquid Bandage over the counter. It has an applicator swab, and a bottle of drops that you have to put 4 drops on the applicator for it to work. It is good for places without a lot of movement. It isn't that great for hands and fingers, although it does work (you just may have to use more than one application before the wound heals). In fact I recently closed my knife accident on my left palm with Liquid Bandage. I have a nearly invisible scar. Anyway, the reason it isn't that great for hands is, the relatively constant movement, plus repeated washings tends to wear the glue off too quickly. You need to make sure the bleeding is controlled and the cut is cleaned and dried before applying the glue. Make sure you pinch the cut closed evenly and then apply the glue. Hold it until it is dry. If you mess up, don't worry, just use petrolleum jelly to break down the glue's bond (this goes for anytime you glue something with super glue that you didn't intend).

Don't forget about your tetanus shot

Mike
 
When I get cut ( It HAS happened ; BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ;)) I start
with some Hydrogen Peroxide ( about
.79 cents in drug store(s)) this
cortorizes the cut ( it will also clean bloodied clothing, when applied & scrubbed with an old toothbrush ) Peroxide kills the enzyme(s) in the blood, hence the blood "dissipates". After Apply neosporin ( or have your doctor prescribe you Bactroban (it's MUCH BETTER ;)) and a bandaid ;)
That should do the trick ;) If not,
seek medical attention AT ONCE!

AET ;)
 
Originally posted by Medic1210
The Super Glue is fine, it is used every day in Emergency Rooms around the country. You don't have to worry about cyanide poisoning (just don't drink it, duh!) The medical version, commonly known as Dermabond, has a chemical name 2-octyl cyanoacrylate.
Click to expand...
Is it just fine in small quantities? I've always wondered about that, since I spent about 6 months with my fingers continuously and literally encased in the stuff. (No, I wasn't cutting myself that often, I had to build little balsa wood structures).

I did a little Googling, found this website about 2-octyl cyanoacrylate. It's FDA approved, so I'll guess it isn't too bad. But the cheaper stuff might be the shorter-chain variety, which breaks down into cyanoacetate and formaldehyde more quickly, stuff I'm not sure I really want inside my wounds. Try not to get any inside.
 
Interesting article alphalphaPB, I hadn't heard about the shorter chain problems. I guess, in a pinch, superglue would work fine, but for more serious cuts, you should go with the commercial skin adhesives. Again, they are not as effective on hands and fingers. I had to apply 4 separate applications to a small 1/2 inch laceration to the palm of my hand. It wasn't in a crease, nor was it in an area that constantly flexes. If you make a fist with your left hand, palm side facing you, it was in the area just to the right of the spot your pinky finger touches. This area doesn't move much with opening and closing your hand, but I guess the repeated washings caused it to wear off quicker. The plasticizer the article mentions to make it more flexible is Paraben. This is a wax based substance if I'm not mistaken.

Mike
 
Wow. Great thread. A lot of good stuff here.

Ever had nerve damage? I had a deep cut on the end of my middle finger from about 4 months ago. It healed long ago but it still feels funny. It's hard to describe, but something just doesn't quite feel right there anymore.
 
Sounds like you nicked a nerve. Most of the time, those nerves regenerate, but it's a slow process (like 1/4 inch per month or something like that).

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top