Gonna sew yourself up?

[cbprice797]

When it comes time to sew yourself up in an emergency situation what will you do it with? Of course there are some of you that have thread and needles for those emergencies, I have used those very things once myself. I found a nice source for recently expired and new sutures at

http://www.esutures.com/

The one I chose last year has 48'' of surgical thread and a suture all in a hermetically seadle package. Cost ONE DOLLAR each so got ten. I found elsewhere that these items do not "go bad" as long as they remain sealed they will remain sterile for several years.

[Big_Saw]

A nice find, indeed.....

[avking]

Self service sutures are very difficult to do. That is why I have a stapler in my kit, very easy to do yourself. I also have a suture kit. In a real emergency, the quickest and strongest method is glue. I keep three of them in my kit and they are very easy. I have used regular super glue on bad cuts when hunting, but now I have the medical glue.

[The Pirate M]

Self service sutures are very difficult to do. That is why I have a stapler in my kit, very easy to do yourself. I also have a suture kit. In a real emergency, the quickest and strongest method is glue. I keep three of them in my kit and they are very easy. I have used regular super glue on bad cuts when hunting, but now I have the medical glue.

How does on find medical glue? Do you have to be a medical professional to get some?

[rsanders]

How does on find medical glue? Do you have to be a medical professional to get some?

And what is the difference between Super Glue , and medical glue ?:confused:

[prkchp76]

And what is the difference between Super Glue , and medical glue ?:confused:

about ten dollars i have been wonderingwhere to buy the suture kits myself thank ya very much i just added a diebetic monitor to the med kit as well

[avking]

I do not know what all the differences are, but it is not toxic like regular super glue and it is cleaner (ie sterile). Very easy to get. Just use google. It is more expensive, of course, but VERY effective and easy to use.

It is not a long term subsitute for stitches, it is just to stop the bleeding and prevent infection for short term use.

I do not think you need a medical license to get it. I did not need one. I am looking for some anti-biotics and some anesthetics, but you do need a license to get them. Whenever I have dental work done or get good painkillers for other medical reasons, I always save as many as I can. Percocet and the like, will be great to have if/when the pharmacy is no longer an option.

[rsanders]

I've always been told by pharmacist that all meds have a shelf life of about 12 months, so ,like other perishables I try to keep them rotated.

[cbprice797]

Yes I know it is much harder to sew yourself since i have done it a few times. I also have a stapler in my pack now. But it was such a good deal on the sutures that I couldnt pass it up.

[avking]

Yes I know it is much harder to sew yourself since i have done it a few times. I also have a stapler in my pack now. But it was such a good deal on the sutures that I couldnt pass it up.

Don't get me wrong. I think sutures are important to have. Just not for sewing yourself. They are best for having someone else do the sewing. Alternatives for self service are good to have.

[Lil Bear]

I am at the age that I need reading glasses on when I sew. I have added a pair to each of my first aid kits. I like to do an undermine pursestring stitch just below the surface of the skin with 4-0 propylene using a reverse cut needle. This allows you to pull the wound together with out bunching. I then close with a 6-0 gut suture which desolves in about a 2-3 week time. I have to admit that I am way better at sewing other people up than sewing up myself.

[pathfinder3081]

797! Good link.. I have had a half dozen sutures and a Ethicon stapler in my med kit for a few years. But my old suture contact is not around anymore. Thanks for the link!

[cbprice797]

Shelflife of sutures

Glad i could help. I rememebr reading somewhere that as long as the sutures are still in their hermetically sealed packs they will be good for at least three years past the stated expiration date.

[Mungo]

For clean cuts when the skin can be brought back togther easily, "steri-strips" work just as well as sutures.

But having someone who can sew skin without passing out is good to have too.

[waitnc]

Avking,
Thanks for the link to the Harvard report, good FYI for now and when we are scrounging looking for the Advil after the SHTF.:)