Sanitary towels as wound dressings
- Thread starter Nemesis
- Start date
Okay here's my wifes take on them as a former EMT-A
Some towels (not all) do contain a starch like powder. But only accessible if it's ripped or cut open. Your first concern with a major bleed is to stop the blood loss. As long as you use a towel complete and uncut you should be okay. As regards to sterility unless it covered in dog poop you'll be okay. Infection can be dealt with in the hospital and are on a daily basis with wounds that got infected by using non sterile dressings, hankies, tee-shirts, towels etc.
Infections are easy for a doctor...bringing someone back to life who died of blood loss is another thing.
Our car trauma kit has four sterile combat dressing plus a bunch of sanitary towels. While the stocked EMT-FR bag has a whole section full of pads, they do have their uses.
The site you mentioned seems to be scare mongering people into buying their sterile dressings. Which to my warped way of thinking is not on. What if someone took that to heart and wouldn't help someone because they didn't have a sterile dressing.
Y'know folks managed before they had either 'sterile combat dressings' or mass produced sanitary towels.....and bluntly I think (and I am not alone) in thinking ST's belong in the loo not in a FAK.
Anything that can be padded and bound on will work, a folded or rolled up tshirt for instance.
Frankly I think using STs is one of those 'bright' ideas looking for a reason, other than that they're intended for, iimmc.
Sticky wings, pretty pink plastic wraps, heavy, light or medium flow, daytime or nighttime use, comfort fit shaped back or front, old fashioned looped for belts Dr. White's, dry surface outer layer, rayon filled, or the 10% organic cotton Natracare...which ones should one choose ?
Then there are the issues of allergy and toxicity to consider.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx
M
Anything that can be padded and bound on will work, a folded or rolled up tshirt for instance.
Frankly I think using STs is one of those 'bright' ideas looking for a reason, other than that they're intended for, iimmc.
Sticky wings, pretty pink plastic wraps, heavy, light or medium flow, daytime or nighttime use, comfort fit shaped back or front, old fashioned looped for belts Dr. White's, dry surface outer layer, rayon filled, or the 10% organic cotton Natracare...which ones should one choose ?
Then there are the issues of allergy and toxicity to consider.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx
M
Back in 98 I got knifed in the guts and lost a lot of blood between the event and getting to hospital, the t-towel i grabbed off my mates kitchen bench was all i had available and jammed it in the wound whilst i walked 3/4 mile to hospital, i was also wearing a puffa jacket at the time (it was all the style i loved that jacket) which also got squashed against the stab hole along with the t-towel, neither were clean.
I do not know if this caused any extra problems for the surgeons but was told it was the difference between me being here and not aswell as the 4 hr op to stitch my liver and spleen back together via a laparoscopic operation where the docs cut me from belly button to sternum to gain access , all i knew was i could not hang around waiting for an ambulance, summick inside said keep moving and move in the direction of the hospital, almost the second i arrived at the hospital i lost consciousness, i just had time to show the receptionists the mess and say "Can you pop a couple of stitches in here so i can gan yem i hate hospitals" and i do not remember hitting the floor, I was not very bright back then, street smart but thick as pig crap
20 sanitary towels wouldn't have done me any good never mind one
I do not know if this caused any extra problems for the surgeons but was told it was the difference between me being here and not aswell as the 4 hr op to stitch my liver and spleen back together via a laparoscopic operation where the docs cut me from belly button to sternum to gain access , all i knew was i could not hang around waiting for an ambulance, summick inside said keep moving and move in the direction of the hospital, almost the second i arrived at the hospital i lost consciousness, i just had time to show the receptionists the mess and say "Can you pop a couple of stitches in here so i can gan yem i hate hospitals" and i do not remember hitting the floor, I was not very bright back then, street smart but thick as pig crap
20 sanitary towels wouldn't have done me any good never mind one
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They could be used, and i have seen them used.
They do a good job of collecting the blood but not much for the wound or covering it.
If i were to carry one it would be for bio spill collection/clean up after the wound was dressed.
I have seen and used all sorts of thing in my time as a medic but unless your a complete skin flint cheepo, Just buy some proper dressings.
Also dont use them up your nose for nose bleeds, as they can shed fibres and do swell up. Pulling it out tends to hurt and also start the bleeding again.
They do a good job of collecting the blood but not much for the wound or covering it.
If i were to carry one it would be for bio spill collection/clean up after the wound was dressed.
I have seen and used all sorts of thing in my time as a medic but unless your a complete skin flint cheepo, Just buy some proper dressings.
Also dont use them up your nose for nose bleeds, as they can shed fibres and do swell up. Pulling it out tends to hurt and also start the bleeding again.
That sums it up for me
T- towels, T- shirts, nappies, hankies, STs - yup - they have all been used effectively to staunch bleeding and save lives ... proper dressings, designed for the job, do it better
Hahaha! Luckily I wasn't drinking tea when I read that or I would have sprayed the computer with it!
These days the only thing missing from my edc med kit is a self stitching up kit and bone splint setup, although i do carry a good needle and thread combo elsewhere in my kit to repair kit and clothing, hope i am never injured enough that i feel the need to use it on the flesh.
I have got to say, as a bloke, and this is extremely embarrassing, that sanitary towels have been a massive help for me in my current situation. I had an operation on the 9th of May on a pilonidol sinus, long story short it went wrong and I have been left with an open wound on my bum cleavage (sorry to much info) 12cm long and 4cm deep, when I was losing a lot of blood sanitary towels were far better than anything the doctors or hospital could give me, my wife just went to Tesco and bought the cheapest pack she could.
Although I won't have this wound forever, they are a definately multi use item that I will put in my fak, and the ones I have cost penny's. And if you want them to be waterproof vacuum seal them.
Sorry if I gave too much info, just thought the view of a big burly bloke may help lol.
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Although I won't have this wound forever, they are a definately multi use item that I will put in my fak, and the ones I have cost penny's. And if you want them to be waterproof vacuum seal them.
Sorry if I gave too much info, just thought the view of a big burly bloke may help lol.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I think a pilonidal cyst/sinus op is a different thing entirely. That's a wound in a cleft where any movement threatens to split it again.
I hope you have a very swift recovery, though I know that's very unlikely
and I really hope you never have a recurrance (that has better odds )
The only other man I knew of who used ST's suffered from bleeding piles and he blessed the biggest softest thickest ones his missus could buy.
Kind regards,
Mary
I hope you have a very swift recovery, though I know that's very unlikely
and I really hope you never have a recurrance (that has better odds )The only other man I knew of who used ST's suffered from bleeding piles and he blessed the biggest softest thickest ones his missus could buy.
Kind regards,
Mary
Am i the only one that wants to see this wound......??
Sicko i know but i love a good open wound photo.
I think a pilonidal cyst/sinus op is a different thing entirely. That's a wound in a cleft where any movement threatens to split it again.
I hope you have a very swift recovery, though I know that's very unlikely
I had this surgery when I was in my early 20s. No use of the towels though. They packed the wound with surgical gauze. I still remember the stench when they removed it :yikes:
I had a friend who went Interrailing with that wound back in the 90's. (Luckily her traveling companion was a trained nurse who did the repacking). Not a nice op but she thought it was well worth it and it did heal well in the end. So good luck Jacko1066 you'll get there and still be able to do stuff while you heal.
Thanks again all. Correct dressings duly bought and included (without removing anything which implies some TARDIS tech in place that I wasn't aware of!)
As as an aside, also included is some liquid skin/liquid plaster decanted into one of those tiny tiny glass tubes that perfume samples come in. Tiny and has a mastic applicator built in. (Washed of course)
As as an aside, also included is some liquid skin/liquid plaster decanted into one of those tiny tiny glass tubes that perfume samples come in. Tiny and has a mastic applicator built in. (Washed of course)
Sexy dressings arent as important as proper wound management. Direct pressure, indirect pressure then torniquet (If not too serious)...if its a critical haemmorhage then youre gonna need a torniquet first .
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