Sutures

[site59]

Are they needed in a Base camp firstaid kit?

If so, would you have any recomnedation of what sizes and qtys?

Thanks for any help

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

I would have them in my personal kit, at the very least butterfly closures. In a pinch you can use fishing line or non-waxed floss and a sewing needle, be warn this will hurt but better than having a gaping wound.

[medicff0879]

I have them in my kit in various sizes and filaments. I have never personally sutured a wound but have watched the Docs. do it daily in the ER. I figure its kind of like staying in a Holiday Inn Express LMAO!! J/k. Anyway, I have practiced a couple of times on pigs feet and was once taught by a doc. back home, so I can do it, it just aint pretty. I also keep a dermabond pen and butterfly bandages to avoid sutures if at all possible. Last but not least, I have various forms of Lidocaine in different % with and without Epi. for comforts sake.

Now, would I recommend them? Yes, I would only if you know how to use them, when to use them, and how to use them if the wound is very deep requiring internal sutures to repair from the inside out. It would be almost impossible to obtain "numbbing" medication and syringes for the average person without access to that kind of medical supplies so if they are required it will be painful, but tolerable. Just like the good ole days, if you cant handle the pain just suck down a couple of shots of your favorite hard liquor LOL!!

As for the kinds:

I have the following kinds and sizes (the needle size is indicated by the PS-and then the number for size with smaller numbers being longer and larger PS-2, PS-3, etc...

Prolene PS-2 and PS-3
Vicryl Plus with antibacterial coating in PS-2 and PS-3

These are what most of the docs. use 99% of the time in most cases involving cuts that need sutures.

[Christian for Israel]

i have several packs with chromic gut and a few needles that take seperate thread.

[Gunfixr]

I have both regular and dissolvable in my kit. Unfortunately I don't have any Lidocaine, I would much like to get some. I do have several syringes and needles for them, still in their wrap. All I need is the Lidocaine.

[Christian for Israel]

i've been told by an old vetrinarian that back before painkillers were easy to get he used to inject grain alcohol to block a nerve. i personally haven't tried this but it's good to know if one were ever in a life or death SHTF situation.

[site59]

Thanks for the responces

Went ahead a pick up 30 of differant sizes. Sure hope, I don't have to use one "on my self" any time soon.

[Coosbay]

Squirt superglue on an occlusive dressing, clean wound area w/alcho wipe, then glue the wound shut [pulling it together as you apply patch,] using the dressing at a patch over the top. Make sure it's clean because an infection will SUCK, but it'll stay closed very well.

This is of course not the best option even though it will work in a pinch.

[Stainless]

I have a U.S. Army Field Surgical kit in both first reponder kits and one in the large home kit.

[ExOp:345]

superglue is great, i got it sprayed across my eyes one time, any they said when you wake up your eyes will get rid of it by themselfves over night, with you "sleepys" bieng the old layer of your eye/

i would expect the same thing to happen with a superglued wound, as the dead skin falls off when the wound heals the bandange would come off too.

[Gunfixr]

That is what happens, but by the time the body sheds that top layer and it falls off, the wound underneath has healed.