For those that are medically inclined - what do you carry in terms of a suture kit?

I understand. And as I said, there are people who should never try to change a lightbulb themselves. Or remove a splinter. Or eat something that didn't come in a clearly labled package from a grocery store. I don't suggest, much less demand, that anyone live their life as I have done. We each make our own decisions and live by the consequences. BTW, suturing a minor wound yourself is not exactly "playing Frankenstein" with your body, but I do understand that some people are terrified by the idea. They should by all means not attempt it.

BTW again, no 12 year old is allowed, by law, to read this forum. I would be more concerned that they would give them selves a bird poop enema or eat whatever carrion they might come across.
 
I would recommend 3M Steri Strips. I slipped and put a sweet 1.25" laceration in my chin while hiking in Tasmania. Getting to an ER was impossible at least until I hiked another 60 km and drove another 3 hrs. So, I cleaned the wound very thoroughly and applied Steri Strips [from the centre out]. They closed the wound perfectly and as a result, I didn't require any sutures. I would also apply a product called "Hypafix" over the Steri Strips - this is basically a perforated adhesive tape. The hypafix will give you additional support and will allow the wound to breathe. If you need environmental protection, a layer of 3M Tegaderm over that will keep things sealed and clean until a medical professional can take a look. The most important thing is to make sure the wound is super clean before closing it.
 
Super glue, butterfly's, duct tape. And if those three cant handle it you can go for your suture kit. You can also go online and buy a blood clotting kit. You pour it into the wound, it'll hurt worse but stop the bleeding but needs to be cleaned by a doctor shortly there after. You can probly go to a butcher an pick up a hog to practice suturing. Have a good BBQ after. When I deploy I carry a small bag w all the above and some other disinfecting gear. If you're worried about armeggedon get your suture kit. If you're just looking for the time being while your in the field you only want to plan on having what you need for stabilization till you can get home
 
"Stabilising" a wound would always be my preference ... nerves when severed are like "elastic" ... they shrink back up the limb. Any "deep" limb cut or wound where self administered cleaning and closure is done well ... still can leave permanent nerve damage. A good surgeon can re-attach nerves. Thus retaining the use of key issues like "fingers". I have parts of my body which are "numb" around scar tissue ... that is even after having had surgeons do the work. I have colleagues who are healing from blast injuries having to decide whether they should go ahead with an amputation ... even though the limb was saved ... because of the liklihood that these may remain useless ... whereas an artificial limb will give greater life time mobility. Those are very harsh choices ....

Now turning a straightforward "wound" problem into necrotic infection or irrideemable nerve loss ... that is easily avoided ... can be another "high price" if you end up an amputee ...

As to "soldiering" on with bad wounds or closing them ... we have a guy who gives a talk on Escape and Evasion who got shot in the leg in Malaysia ... he left the wound open and let the flies get at it ... the maggots laid in the wound fed on the dead flesh and kept it clean ... he kept his leg ! Had he closed the wound he would have lost it or more likely his life.

There are "historic" cases where self operating was the only choice ... but in today's world I suspect 90% of the situations are best dealt with by "stabilising" things and waiting for proper medical attention.
 
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So what you ALL are saying is that I should rub some dirt in the wound and sew it up? ;)

Sheesh - I am surprised at how WRONG I was on this one. I am VERY happy to be corrected.

Thanks gents.

TF
 
hunter s thompson said:
So what are you packing in your suture kit? :D
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Fly eggs? :D

Small packets of antiseptics would be good (alcohol, provodine, betadine, etc.). I like sterile saline solution. This comes in small squeeze bottles meant for contact lens wearers and make good irrigation syringes.
 
I'm headed out tomorrow morning on a long trip with limited medical treatments and was giving my FAK a one-over a few weeks ago. The thing I just did was change out the Potable Aqua tablets (to make clean water to clean out the wound) which were manufactured in May 1998. They have a 4 year shelf life according to the website, so they were about 10 years expired. UGHHH!!! So that's number one- a way to clean out the wound. Number 2 is steri-strips and liquid bandage. Number 3 is the suture and hemostats.

Now, having said all that, over the years that I've been carrying my little FAK, the hemostats, tweezers, super glue and pack of upholstery sewing needles (not suture needles) have probably been the items I go to the most often, and more often than not, it's got nothing to do with first aid.

Also, keep a keen eye on the expiration dates, as the Potable Aqua tablets pointed out to me, time can really fly by faster than you'd think.
 
Yes and no, it really depends on if how long after the cut you sew your self up and how well you can scrub out the area in question. What is a PSK? Either way, if you can clean out the cut properly and take the right antibiotics, you should be fine if you know how to suture and get to it with in 6 hours or so. If over 6 hours, don't even bother to suture it up (no medical professional would do it unless they want to get sued). If you can, just put pressure on the area in question and get to an emergency room or urgent care office if possible.





snyper1ad said:
I've been a paramedic for 11 years field sutures will most likely lead to infection. My advise if your looking to build a kit for hiking or camping where a hospital would be hours or even a day or 2 away is to get some Israeli battle dressings 1 or 2 quick clot sponges but make sure you read up on them as they are not a solve all. Also veterinary super glue for moderate lacerations to extremities that are not on joints. The most important thing would be to take a wilderness first aid class though. Knowledge is greater than any piece of kit you can carry.
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I like the tampon/pad idea... at least two uses for those items. I'm a big believer in duct tape, superglue. And while I know pain wouldn't keep me from suturing, the thought of infection does, especially with MRSA. I also like the contact solution idea.

This is a great example of why I like WS&S.... errr OG,SE&M. :)
 
What about flushing it with iodine, like take a syringe and flush the wound out and keep iodine around the whole area. I have gotten stitches at the doctors office without novicane, it's not that bad. I mean obviously it stings but a tattoo is having a needle puncture over a fresh wound thousands of times. Usually when u get hurt real good you've got some serious adrenaline going. What do you guys who are emts think about those one time use skin staple machines. Those seem like they would work pretty good. Obviously I'm not taking about you get hurt and you have the ability to call for help or get to the hospital within a decent amount of time. But if your are literally lost or have no way to get to a doctor any time soon. I think I'd rather take the chance and just try to keep pouring iodine or something over it as I went. It's like sprinkling untreated water, yea you could get sick but hell without water your gona die anyways eventually. But I'd like to see if it would be possible and what would be a better option between stitching it or the staples. I too like the medical glue myself, what about cauterizing, that would handle any infection with heat and also seal the wound wouldn't it? Also having some good antibiotics would help fight off the infection wouldn't they.
 
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If I got a big cut I carry C-clamps, they work very nicely. I try to make sure they are nice and rusty. Who doesn't love some good lock jaw LOL just messing around everyone don't take it serious
 
Killinumsoftly said:
What about flushing it with iodine, like take a syringe and flush the wound out and keep iodine around the whole area. I have gotten stitches at the doctors office without novicane, it's not that bad. I mean obviously it stings but a tattoo is having a needle puncture over a fresh wound thousands of times. Usually when u get hurt real good you've got some serious adrenaline going. What do you guys who are emts think about those one time use skin staple machines. Those seem like they would work pretty good. Obviously I'm not taking about you get hurt and you have the ability to call for help or get to the hospital within a decent amount of time. But if your are literally lost or have no way to get to a doctor any time soon. I think I'd rather take the chance and just try to keep pouring iodine or something over it as I went. It's like sprinkling untreated water, yea you could get sick but hell without water your gona die anyways eventually. But I'd like to see if it would be possible and what would be a better option between stitching it or the staples. I too like the medical glue myself, what about cauterizing, that would handle any infection with heat and also seal the wound wouldn't it? Also having some good antibiotics would help fight off the infection wouldn't they.
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Honestly, suturing really isn't emergency medicine. Bandaging is a much easier, safer and more reliable way to gain hemostatic control. Sutures are typically used to promote healing, not to stop bleeding. In short, in a non-emergency situation I wouldn't take the risks associated with sutures and in an emergency situation I wouldn't waste the time it took to put them in.
 
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