How to close a gaping wound when medical care is days away

January 2, 4:42 PMMinneapolis Outdoor Recreation ExaminerMarie Malinowski

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Blood. The body fluid that delivers. 

As I was skimming the November issue of Backpacker, I came across a first aid and health section that I had missed. This made me take pause because I learned that I’m lacking some vital first aid items in my first aid kit.

That's not good when you’re as accident prone as I am.

So what do you do when you, or your buddy, need stitches and medical care is days away? According to Backpacker:

1. Thoroughly wash the skin around the cut, then irrigate the wound with a syringe, water bladder, or a plastic bag with a pinhole. Use only water that is safe to drink.

2. Smear a line of tincture of benzoin compound along both sides of the wound, keeping it out of the wound itself, and let dry for 30 seconds (the resulting stickiness helps keep the bandage in place). Touching only the ends of the strips, pull the wound’s edges together and tape shut with closure strips, butterfly bandages, or thin strips of athletic or duct tape.

3. Cover the wound with a micro-thin dressing gauze smeared with antibiotic ointment.

Note: Due to the high risk of infection, do not close wounds involving animal bites; damaged tendons, ligaments, or bones; those caused by crushing injuries; and those too heavily contaminated to clean thoroughly. Instead, pack with moist sterile gauze, cover with dry gauze, and evacuate.

For more information on outdoor emergency first aid, check out the upcoming Wilderness First Responder course at REI and sign up. It could save someone's life--or your own.