Sticky Life Saver
November 22, 2006|
Submitted by Alan Briley
Super glue is one item that is small, can fix many things, and is available as liquid or gel. You can also use it to close small to medium shallow lacerations on people (and animals). If possible, get a PA or MD to get you samples of Dermabond (a sterile super glue for medical use). I work as an ER nurse, and I always have some when I travel. I also work with the local Tac Team, and try to be prepared at all times.
Don't glue up that lac until after you clean it out. Remember the wound has to be debrided too. I've glued up several wounds with the stuff I bought at Walmart. Good for up to 3 stitches or about 1.5 cm.
Posted by: Charlie | December 08, 2006 at 05:03 AM
Oh...I forgot to mention that I take a little bottle of dish soap (Dawn) and a small pair of scissors to clean the wound. Don't worry about the dressing sticking to it, the body will shed that in a couple of days (about 3).
Posted by: Charlie | December 08, 2006 at 05:07 AM
How do you get the superglue to stick on a wet wound? Stop the bleeding first then apply?
Posted by: Matt | March 15, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Good question. You do the standard first aid, then when it comes time to really treat it, it will bleed a little while you are debriding it. I dab on the glue, then immediately put the dressing on it while pinching it together. The stuff sets up with the bandage stuck to it. Change the dressings by cutting around the hard piece. Eventually the body will shed it. Its good for a small lac (3 stitches).
Posted by: Charlie | April 02, 2007 at 07:55 AM
I had a guy with a 2 inch lac over his right hand thumb joint (no bone or muscle involvement). It was probably a little too long for superglue, but you do what you hafta do. It was very swollen. I used a small pair of scissors to remove the dead skin, and cleaned it with sterifx. He shed the dressing in about three days. I had him continue to clean it and dress it, and there was very little scarring. I took a digital picture of it later. It healed up really really well.
Posted by: Charlie | April 02, 2007 at 08:01 AM
FYI: As of today, 30 May 08, Amazon reports the link no longer works.
Posted by: Jim | May 30, 2008 at 06:14 AM
However, Amazon does report this link works:
http://www.amazon.com/Dermabond-Topical-Adhesive-Cyanoacrylate-Viscosity/dp/B0011YUKK4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1212347634&sr=8-2
for those of us with silver lined knapsacks. :-)
Posted by: Jim | June 01, 2008 at 12:18 PM