Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Wilderness survival/first aid :: Disposable Skin Stapler (Suture Thread Alternative) with 55 Preloaded Wires Plus Stapler Remover Tool for Outdoor Camping Emergency
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nctry |
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Canoearoo |
Skin Stapler = |
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Sunburn |
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ockycamper |
Sunburn: "I consider a skin stapler essential backcountry first aid gear, especially in a situation where I will be using a filet knife and cleaning fish. " The issue of skin staplers came up at the Wilderness First Aide course. There advice was there was more risk of infection, and damage from being used by someone without proper training, then sterilizing the wound, and using steri strips and compression bandages. |
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Canoearoo |
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Sunburn |
ockycamper: "Sunburn: "I consider a skin stapler essential backcountry first aid gear, especially in a situation where I will be using a filet knife and cleaning fish. " I would respectfully counter that skin staples can do considerably more to effectively manage a deep or large laceration, especially on a higher motion area like the hands or arms. If an unclean wound is closed there will be high infection risk whether the wound was closed with suture, staples, or steri-strips. All of this should be viewed as temporary management of the wound to allow for extricating yourself from the backcountry and seeking appropriate emergency medical care. For small lacerations, steri-strips are definitely the preferred approach. For solo travelers, it is also critical to consider how you would apply steri-strips to the nasty laceration on your dominate hand??? Or how effective steri-strips will be when applying during a rainstorm when everything is wet. With minimal practice, a skin stapler is quick and easy to use (although not painless in this situation!). If you have never used a skin stapler (most folks haven't), buy two. Leave one completely sealed in the package (therefore still sterile). Take the other one out and practice stapling a few "lacerations" made in the peel of an orange. I check my stapler before each trip. If the packaging is damaged (therefore no longer sterile), I order a new one and pitch the old. I have extensive medical training and surgical experience (veterinarian), so this may influence my comfort with and approach to certain aspects of first aid. |
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airmorse |
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Jaywalker |
airmorse: "I purchased one similar with the intent of bringing to the BW, however I am rethinking that idea now." Why are you reconsidering? |
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ockycamper |
Wash the wound, apply antiseptic, put on steri strips and pull the wound tight. Cover with a gauze bandage. Then get to a doctor for proper stitches. Very difficult to keep staples, stapler, etc all sterile. |
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Paddle4Hike |
I realized that my most likely serious injury would be a cut or fall opening a wound. Decided I was more likely to use a stapler than sew myself up with sutures :) |