Thread: Plugging leaks (or how to stop blood going everywhere)

They're a little bit more expensive than regular band aids but these 'advanced' ones are actually really good. They stay on for multiple days in areas that flex a lot like fingers and wrist. Easy to get as well, Coles and Woolies both stock them.

A little bit less fun than superglue but it may contribute to a positive response from a spouse in the event of self inflicted injuries.

Hello my fellow sacrificial lambs!
I'm really enjoying this thread, and all contributions. As a former paramedic, and currently a perioperative nurse, I am fairly familiar with the sight of blood, and the management of exsanguination, whether intentionally created or otherwise.
Of course, as a passionate woodworker I have considered the possible outcomes of toying with very fast, very sharp machinery, to say nothing of what may befall the careless wielding of ones treasured Lie-Nielsen chisels, and so gathered myself an extensive, exhaustive first-aid kit, complete with suturing needles/thread, blah blah blah plus the inevitable Superglue. As a guitarist, and amateur luthier, said glue is invaluable for hacks and nicks of the fingertips - hey, it was good enough for Stevie Ray Vaughan, so that's good enough for me!
Well, of course, when the time came that I foolishly placed my left fingers behind my spinning tablesaw blade, even more foolishly forgetting that "persistence of vision" and the Doppler Effect makes the edge of the lethally spinning blade not actually where it appears to be, the inevitable outcome was two severely lacerated fingers, incredibly without any pain. My first thought was not, "There goes my woodworking", but rather, "There goes my guitar playing"; my second, more survivalist thought was "Stem the bleeding". I had the aforementioned extensive first-aid kit, but what I reached for was my wife's lovely Irish linen tea towel, which I pressed into service, while trying to be professional and fully assess the situation. Superglue would not have helped here. Given my job description, I was able to access a top Orthopaedic Surgeon that afternoon, and I remain forever in his debt that, not only did he save my fingers, but I can still play the guitars I make, perhaps with a little more passion than before. I merely lost the bone tip of my left middle finger, and endured a year or two of highly sensitised fingertips.
Cyanoacrylate glue is invaluable in so many ways, and is in frequent use in the Operating Suite of many facilities. "Prineo and Dermabond" are just two cyanoacrylate products commonly used, the use of which involves a mesh substrate to assist in skin approximation and bonding, leaving far less scarring than traditional suturing and stapling.(Yes, skin is often stapled closed to minimise puckering). It would perhaps be useful if my woodworking colleagues had access to these marvellous products, but I suspect that is still some way off. Be that as it may, I persist in keeping a relatively large bottle of cyanoacrylate glue in my tool cabinet, and reach for it often, sometimes to simply seal an annoying fingertip hack to allow me to continue sanding/carving/moulding/planing, sometimes just to repair an annoying blemish on my otherwise gorgeous timber. It is a lifesaver, and I am firmly in favour of all its myriad benefits.
Sorry this reply ran on a bit - I'm not known for brevity. All replies gratefully received.
Gezdog

That was a great read Gezdog! I had to look up "exsanguination", and will try to find a way to use it this afternoon when we sit down as a family for afternoon tea.

As a fellow guitar player, I hear you on what the smallest nick on the top of a left hand finger. I've had several occasions where when playing live with a cut been forced to just not use the affected finger, which can certainly be awkward when playing lead. I guess it's good for keeping the brain active!

Is the CA you use normal shop bought, or some special medical stuff? Despite being happy to use it on myself in the past, I do wonder about the difference in toxicity between common and medical varieties.

It looks like so many people are using CA to patch nicks that I may need to re-visit it my decision to abandon it. I may just not share any, what I think to be funny, mishaps over dinner.

My favorite has always been a greasy rag and some electrical tape but I have been know to supa glue a decent sizes gash together, I had an old Scout Leader that used to put SuperGlue on his heels before a long walk to stop his leather boots from wearing through his heels (he also recommend rubbing metho into the skin for a week leading up to a hike to protect yor skin)

Gezdog; Welcome to the Forum!

Nice first post. I assume that medical staples are nothing like the output of my staple gun!

Not much fun having them taken out

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Originally Posted by GraemeCook

I assume that medical staples are nothing like the output of my staple gun!

Probably not all that different, just sterile with an expiry date and a price tag 5 times the size

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Probably not all that different, just sterile with an expiry date and a price tag 5 times the size

Well, Elan, if I have a cut and you have your staple gun, then I think I will run.....

Hi LanceC,
I use regular shop bought CA for all purposes, including fingertip hacks/nicks. It feels a bit dead to play with a glued up finger, but it'll get you through your big lead break! It strikes me that I really should acquire some medical grade stuff. Probably shouldn't allow either type free access to your bloodstream either. Thank you for your support.
Gezdog

Hi Graeme,
Thank you for your welcome and support. Medical staples are remarkably similar to your staple gun variety, only they are inserted with a hand stapler - not an electric or pneumatic gun! Plus they are designed to curve around the edges of the skin they are holding together for better holding power. You would salivate over some of the fabulous electric/pneumatic drills, reciprocating saws & reamers that your average Orthopaedic Surgeon has access to, plus the extreme quality of the attendant hardware that many of our sporting icons have inserted in their bones and joints. Perhaps I should start a thread over on our sister Metalworking Forum? Thanks again.
Gezdog