(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best gauze & pads

I have pretty good FAKs in my car, bag and at home. I will add that these are by far the most useful addition. They can be used to wrap/treat most cuts/wounds/burns, without pulling out the big wraps and gauze. I would add some non-stick gauze pads and neosporin as well.

The pharmacy closest to my house was closed. The one in Exito does not carry it. They recommended a hospital pharmacy, seems like it may be hard to find these particular bandages. About the price though, are these the bandages you're talking about: r/https://www.amazon.com/Biatain-Non-Adhesive-Dressing-Flexible-3410/dp/B005CZJ57M

If so, I can see how a box of 10 would cost $50.00 in Colombia. However you said $7.00, so maybe those aren't the same bandages you're talking about?

If it were me, and Amazon was the cheapest price, I would probably buy 4 boxes, or however many you want to send, free shipping to you from Amazon and hopefully they use a box that everything just fits in (as opposed to a huge, needlessly oversized box (had it happen). Then take it to USPS and see what they charge to ship it down here.

Too bad your gf isn't in Medellin, I'll be visiting the states next month and would bring them back down for you.

Worth adding a CPR pocket face mask


Just throwing the rest of this out there : Instead of an expensive myopic purpose tourniquet (and even an Israeli bandage) a cheaper option requiring minimal training on how to would be a Triangular bandage which can be used as a tourniquet, for compression, sling etc. is lighter and cheaper, of course gear specific stuff can be great too but is pricier and the plastic bag it comes in can be used for sucking chest wounds. Always check for an exit wound which may not be directly opposite of the entry but is almost always larger and should also be treated. Combine pads are also great. Also remember all medical supplies do expire at some point.

If the lung is punctured through the torso it will "suck" air into the chest cavity preventing the injured from inhaling fully, making it harder and harder to breath. First step is to remove clothing around it and place your palm firmly against the sucking wound "sealing" it off. This can also be done with a plastic bag of some sort (like the one a triangular bandage comes in) and should be taped off on all 4 sides (yes some say to tape it off on only 3 to allow for "burping" of the cavity) but the main thing is to apply pressure with your hand to seal it off and don't remove your hand, get someone else to set up this kind of dressing if you're going that route. Source: EMT

I would consider something like [duoderm](DuoDERM Extra Thin Spots 1.75" x 1.5" - 20/Bx https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00164ERXK/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_y4SPwbPKEYDAD) it will help it heal faster and protect it but you could also apply makeup over it. You can also get something similar from cvs etc called like [healing bandaids](Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages, Advanced Healing Blister Cushions, 6 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Y8W50G/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_-6SPwbYQNM4MV) but they are a bit thicker.

Very few things I have found work. This is what I used as a daily regiment.

Apply:

https://www.amazon.com/MG217-Psoriasis-Symptom-Medicated-Ointment/dp/B07RL7BBJ7/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=tar&qid=1574651038&s=hpc&sr=1-3

and/or

https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Oxide-Protectant-Ointment-Count/dp/B017M8HY5Q/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=zinc+oxide&qid=1574651177&s=hpc&sr=1-8

Then glove up.

https://www.amazon.com/MedPride-Powder-Free-Nitrile-Gloves-Medium/dp/B00GS8W3T4/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=nitrile+gloves&qid=1574650846&s=hpc&sr=1-4

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Wear it all day always.

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Good luck it sucks hope this helps.

If her feet start up I use this.

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https://www.amazon.com/VISCOPASTE-PB7-Zinc-Paste-Bandage/dp/B007AZ5GPC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=zinc+wrap&qid=1574652732&s=hpc&sr=1-1

and these on top of the wrap.

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Cozie-100-ct-Bodycare-BeautyCare/dp/B00EJDA7WK/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=parafin+wax+booties&qid=1574652775&s=hpc&sr=1-16

Something like Mepitel would be ideal. It stays in place for up to 14 days, won't stick to the wound, but will keep it moist enough to heal properly without scarring. After applying that to cover the wound, put some non-stick sterile absorbent pads over the Mepitel to absorb any extra moisture. Then wrap the entire thing in gauze.

You'll have to call around to find where to buy the Mepitel if you don't want to get it online, but the rest you can find at any pharmacy/drug store. If you can't manage to find it, you can make do with just the non-stick pads and gauze.

Ideally, you want to keep the wounds as dry as possible, and as free from irritation as possible.

I see a lot of finger injuries here. Does anyone use tube gauze? I have found it to be the most effective at creating a stable, protective, functional dressing. https://www.amazon.com/DermaScience-Surgitube-Tubular-Gauze-Applicator/dp/B00XQEMSP2 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DM1AM/ref=pd_aw_fbt_121_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A0MCMGNM15BQS8DR8NC9

If you want burns like this to heal better/faster there's something you can do, though you should have started already.

Here's the supplies you'll need:

Triple Antibiotic Ointment.
Anti-fungal ointment.
Vet Wrap (there's probably a human version but I don't know what it's called) This stuff sticks to itself but is re-usable.
Sterile saline solution (used for rinsing contacts)
Non-stick telfa pads.

You can find ALL of these things at any pharmacy for probably around $25-30.

So first you rinse the burn with the saline to clean it. Then mix up the ointments and apply that, then stick tefla pads to that and use the wrap it hold it all on.

I've had 3rd degree burns healed up in about a week using this method with little to no scarring.

this is going to be your best bet to protect this guy, yikes.

Please note that I am not a medical professional of any kind, and I genuinely believe that any serious cut should be checked out by a doctor. However, you don't seem too fussed on going to the ER...in the name of harm minimisation, this is my advice:

Please don't use commercial superglue to close your wounds - while it may have been used in WWII, today's superglues are not intended for medical use, and contain all kinds of chemicals and impurities that could cause infection or worse.

If you have a wound that needs to be stitched or closed, please go to the ER. However, if you are extremely adverse to going to the ER for personal or financial reasons (I can understand this), consider buying some good quality first aid supplies. For wound closure, I would recommend a Dermabond Pen - this is the medical-grade wound adhesive that ER docs use to close wounds. It is designed to be applied to broken skin and is much safer than superglue. I would also buy some Butterfly Strips, Saline Eyewash Pods, and Sterile Gauze.

As for how to use these things...this is a technique that was taught to me by a nurse, and I have used it on my own wounds many times:

1. Take a piece of sterile gauze, and press it over your wound - apply pressure until the wound has stopped bleeding, or the bleeding is as stopped as it's going to get. Take another piece of sterile gauze, and use it in a dabbing or patting action on the wound, to soak up as much blood as you can. Be gentle.
   
   
2. When you have soaked up the majority of the blood, go to a sink or hold your wound over a clean towel. Take one of the sterile saline eyewash pods, break it open, and use the saline to rinse out the wound.
   
   
3. Examine the wound, once it is clean. Are the sides of the wound touching? If they are not touching, try using some butterfly strips to pull the sides of the wound together. If the butterfly strips won't hold the wound together, examine the wound further. Is it just flat red inside, or can you see lumpy yellow fat? If you can see fat, dress the wound with a piece of sterile gauze and some first aid tape, and go to the ER - that wound should be treated by a doctor and probably sutured. If it is flat red inside, you can use the Dermabond.
   
   
4. Follow the instructions on the packaging of the Dermabond pen. I usually wear disposable rubber gloves when I am closing a wound with Dermabond, just in case I accidentally get some of the glue on my hands - I don't want to glue my fingers together.
   
   
5. When the wound has been closed with the Dermabond, I usually put a couple of butterfly sutures on the wound anyway - just in case the glue fails and the wound opens again.
   
   
6. Dress the wound. I usually put a non-stick dressing over the wound, and secure it with some first aid tape.
   
   
7. Check the wound regularly to make sure that it's doing okay. If it starts to hurt, if the skin around it gets red and hot, or if it starts secreting any pus or other fluid - please, please, please go to a doctor.
   
   As a side note - if you're buying first aid supplies, I would also recommend getting some alcohol wipes. I usually wipe down my blade, and the area I am going to cut, before I start. This may be a little bit paranoid, but I have had some nasty infected wounds in the past, and being more careful with things like alcohol wipes really helped stop infections.
   
   Good luck, and please be careful/safe.
   

My experience has been that pain peaks about 48-72 hours. I had a really bad case of road rash last fall and it took a solid 6 weeks to fully heal. I'm a huge fan of colloidal bandages. I used these https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Dynaderm-Hydrocolloid-Dressing-Count/dp/B00U1H9M1U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=hydrocolloid+dressing+6x6&qid=1568871150&s=gateway&sr=8-3. And they were by far the best thing for dealing with the road rash. Need to be a little aware if there is a ton of seepage (ooze), and change more frequently (every other day or so) when there is heavy discharge, but they are better than clear tegaderm or anything else I tried using.

Get Tegaderm Film and apply it over the patches (https://www.amazon.com/Tegaderm-Dressing-6cm-7cm-Box-x/dp/B000KHB6Z6/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540629538&sr=8-1&keywords=tegaderm+6x7+cm)

Works like a charm. I can shower, do sports and after some days they're still fine.

Advanced bandages have come a long way, in part thanks to technologies developed post 9/11 for Afghanistan and Iraq. When I deployed to Iraq they issued me Hemcon bandages which have a chitosan substance made of shrimp shells which bind blood and make it sticky like glue, quickly stopping even arterial bleeds. Here's a new version.

Rinse with sterile normal saline and apply an antibiotic ointment like [Silvadene]
(http://www.amazon.com/Curad-Silver-Solution-Antimicrobial-Gel/dp/B004W6U58U/ref=sr_1_13?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1419556706&sr=1-13&keywords=silvadene) three times daily. Dress it with a non-adherent dressing attach the pads with a roll gauze wrap. Otherwise keep it clean and dry.

Yeah, I thought of that. I think I'll try these again, they did the job when I burned my foot a while ago. Thanks!

No need to wash it with hydrogen peroxide twice a day. If you really feel the need to clean it all that often you can use sterile saline or just soap and water honestly. The antibacterial ointment is okay.

If it isn't open or draining any fluid you don't really have to put a bandage on it, unless the rubbing of your pants opens it up, or it is painful without a dressing.

If you still feel the need to keep it bandaged, I suggest a 4x4 gauze (or two depending on the size) wrapped with something like kerlix around your thigh to keep it in place. Don't use an ace bandage or those stretchy wrap bandages because they will tighten throughout the day and can cut off circulation.

you could also keep the gauze in place with a piece of stockingette. Just cut some and it is like a little sleeve you can slip around your thigh over the gauze pads.

So many options! You should be able to pick this stuff up at any pharmacy, walmart, etc.

> The bandaid on my palm kept coming off with typing so I needed to wear a glove to keep the bandaid in position

I had a similar injury/issue and had a lot of luck with these and these retaining adhesion as long as I thoroughly cleaned the area with an alcohol wipe first.

Maxpedition individual first aid pouch


zipper pocket:

• safety pins<br />

• Nitrile gloves
  
• Ziplock bag:
  
• bacitracin
  
• alcohol wipes
  
• Band-Aids (several sizes/types)
  
• Steri-strips
  
• Moleskin
  
• Tegaderm
  
• Vaseline gauze
  
• Glacier Gel
  
• 4x4 Gauze
  
  Inside:
  
  
• Sharpie
  
  "White" side
  
  
• Whistle
  
• Signal mirror
  
• Trauma shears
  
• Wet Wipes
  
• Aluminum Finger Splint
  
• Saline
  
• Tweezers
  
• Combat Gauze
  
  "Black" side
  
  
• Ace wrap
  
• Body Glide
  
• Transpore Medical Tape
  
• Duck tape
  
• Triangle Bandage
  
• Coban
  
• Compressed Gauze dressing
  
  EDIT: Spelling, formatting, and added some links (cuz I'm bored at work). Not necessarily the ones from the vid, but links nonetheless

Use a blister bandaid. These - Band Aid Advanced Healing Bandages, 10 ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YJZ408/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hmTWAbER6ST2E

I get these. They come in 4"x4", too.