Fak questions.

[Jonbodthethird]

Since I saw a recent post about somebody burnt then selves quite badly I've decided to keep a burns kit in the house and carry one on me on the trail. Question.. How do I keep cling film compact and useable?


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[Limaed]

I wouldn't use cling film in my FAK - instead carry some appropriate plastic bags. If you're really keen you can actually buy burn dressing kits but I think this is perhaps overkill unless your looking after a group.

If you think about a likely burn I would suggest it would be a scald to the arm / hand or leg or possibly a burn from a fire accident (once again the hand is most likely). This is why IMO a bag is more appropriate and easier to manage.

Any dressing is only for infection control and only until you reach primary care. My first concern would be access to water for cooling & the ability to raise an alarm. Infection control is secondary & will be dealt with in hospital if the burn serious enough.

 

[Quixoticgeek]

As previously mentioned, cling film is a sod to use in this situation, you are better off with a plastic bag. It folds up nice and small if you do it sensibly, has the same function, an if it's a burn to a hand, you just put the whole hand in the bag *AFTER* you've cooled it down.

For cooling it down, consider carrying something like Burn gel. Tho the old stalwart of water will work just as well, if you have enough of it. And you need a lot. The ideal is to put the affected area under RUNNING water for at least 10 minutes. That's a lot of water...

Also note, you don't have to just use water, any liquid that you can drink is ok for cooling a burn, in a pinch.

J

 

[John Fenna]

I keep the cling film in my FAK on the tube - but cut the tube to half length for packability .

 

[yomperalex]

I keep the cling film in my FAK on the tube - but cut the tube to half length for packability .

Ta da - annoyed because I didn't think of that.

Alex

 

[bullterrier]

Cling film rather than a bag. The whole point of cling film is that it does not allow air into contact with the burn and all those damaged nerve endings. And straight forward cling film from the supermarket, you don't need special medical stuff - this is what I have had issued on operations in a previous life. I have used it on a chest burn after 10-15 min under running water and was heartened by the relieving paramedics response to my efforts. Burn gel is all very well but those in the link are ten 3.5ml sachets - you need litres of water. Pain relief is hugely important, and you have to be mentally prepared for some difficult sights and screaming.

 

[Graveworm]

For cooling it down, consider carrying something like Burn gel. Tho the old stalwart of water will work just as well, if you have enough of it. And you need a lot. The ideal is to put the affected area under RUNNING water for at least 10 minutes. That's a lot of water...

Gel dressings are good if there is no water but water is the way to go if you have it.

 

[rik_uk3]

You can get hydrogel in spray cans which may be easier to use on you own.

 

[SimonM]

I keep the cling film in my FAK on the tube - but cut the tube to half length for packability .

I do the same...

Remember not to wrap it around a limb, as the limb WILL swell up.

I was taught to lay it over the burn, not wrap.

 

[Big Stu 12]

One of the reasons for using Cling film is that its thouhgt to be sterile, as air has not touched the faces that your putting on the wood has nto seen any air since it was made... I've also used cling fim to go over dressings to keep them clean and dryish..

 

[Qwerty]

Every day is a school day, that's why I keep coming back to this forum

 

[shaggystu]

Have a look here:

http://www.realfirstaid.co.uk/clingfilm/

HTH

Stuart.

 

[leon-1]

Have a look here:

http://www.realfirstaid.co.uk/clingfilm/

HTH

Stuart.

Nice post.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

Have a look here:

http://www.realfirstaid.co.uk/clingfilm/

HTH

Stuart.

That's what I was looking for! Cheers for that.


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[shaggystu]

Nice post.

That's what I was looking for! Cheers for that.

No problem chaps, it's good to share