Here's an amazing product that can close wounds up to an 1.5 inches long, without stitches. It could be a great addition to your first aid kit. ZipStitch .

Interesting. Concept of butterfly bandages but improved...

Wow.......love it. Thanks for passing that along. Me thinks I will add that to my kit.

We saw them earlier this year and also found them very interesting. Forgot to pick them up prior to our trip but i already have in our list to pick up for next year.

I will say they were a little more expensive than i expected but for the rare time you actually need one it would be priceless. Plus compare that cost to the cost of an ER visit or cutting a trip short

I have also seen a tutorial that essentially the same thing with duct tape and dental floss. Quick google search for Duct Tape wound closure will give plenty of options, but here was one of the first examples i found.

Duct Tape wound closure

Using the discount code BD20 will get you 20% off according to Backdoorsurvival.com
If you put ZipStitch in your first aid kit, you will also need a disposable razor to shave off the hair surrounding the cut.

I think the zip Stitch product looks super cool! I do worry that if the zip tie is only one way, how can you loosen it if you accidentally over tighten it? The duct tape tutorial was amazing. I'm glad to add that to my list of options. And it seems more flexible then the zip Stitch to custom address the specifics of your injury.

Thanks for both ideas!

Thanks for posting, I really like this!

I, too, find this product interesting.
Probably will add it to the kit.

Yes, I'll probably add to the kit, even though it's limited to cuts less than 1.5".

This product was marketed to medical professionals about 3 years ago. I tried it once and didn’t see the advantage over steri strips or skin glue. There is one application (gradual closure of compartment syndrome) where it does have a unique utility, but that is not something that is done outside the hospital. Interesting that it is now marketed to consumers: it really wasn’t that popular with people who close skin for a living.

Super glue works too. But then so does monofilament and a fish hook. A friend of mine used that on his foot once when he cut it with an ax. Gives me shudders thinking about it.

That’s a really interesting perspective, Muddyfeet. Is there any chance that it might be easier to do a good job with this device than the other methods for those of us that don’t do this for a living and may never have a chance to practice? Which of the other methods do you recommend for us amateurs?

Very cool concept.... could have used these once or twice on various BWCA trips. I just purchased two of them and can confirm that the "BD20" discount code worked just fine and did give me 20% off.

The duct tape fix is also most creative. I'll keep that in my back pocket for those incidents that may exceed 1.5".

Dave

muddyfeet: "This product was marketed to medical professionals about 3 years ago. I tried it once and didn’t see the advantage over steri strips or skin glue. There is one application (gradual closure of compartment syndrome) where it does have a unique utility, but that is not something that is done outside the hospital. Interesting that it is now marketed to consumers: it really wasn’t that popular with people who close skin for a living. "

Agree completely. Steri-stripes are equally effective for a fraction of the cost. A gimmick now being pitched to consumers because professionals wont buy it.

This really looks like it would be just the thing for a Wilderness first aid kit. If you could get clean dry skin for the thing to adhere to I don’t see why this wouldn’t work until you could get to a hospital.

Very interesting idea. Price isn't bad. I might have to get one.