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How to Stitch a Wound

How to Stitch a Wound

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  1. If possible, call the emergency services.
  2. Clean the wound.
  3. Devise your equipment.
  4. Clean and prepare your equipment.
  5. Plan your stitches.
  6. Puncture the skin about 3-5mm away from the wound, and attempt to have the needle breaking into the wound about 5mm in depth.
  7. Pull the thread through, leaving enough length to tie off the individual stitch.
  8. Once having completed all of the stitches, clean the wound again with antiseptic spray and dress the wound appropriately.
  9. Begin a course of antibiotics as soon as possible once having stitched up a wound.

Equipment

Sutures should be part of any first aid kit for the outdoor pursuits enthusiast. There are many ‘gauges’ (thicknesses) available, but as you should only be concerned with emergency first aid, buy medium gauge sutures as a ‘best fit’.
Sutures

An antiseptic spray is incredibly useful for sterilising both your equipment and the wound. You should carry some with you at all times whilst out adventuring.
Antiseptic spray

How to Stitch a Wound

Knowing how to stitch a wound (suture) can save your life if having had an accident out in the wilderness. Although I always recommend carrying sutures as part of your travelling first aid kit, this how to also provides you with some hints of how to fashion something that will also do the job.

Photo Credit: Designlazy.com

Steps

1- If possible, call the emergency services. If serious and in an accessible location, call the emergency services. This ‘how to’ does not teach you how to suture internal stitches!

2- Clean the wound. It is absolutely essential to clean the wound as best as possible, taking time (and pain) to make sure that all debris is remove by rinsing with water or physically removing it with clean hands (preferably with plastic gloves on) . Spray the inside of the wound with the antiseptic spray. Once clean, attempt to stem the bleeding.

3- Devise your equipment. In the absence of proper sutures, a thin fishing hook (preferably without barbs) and fishing line tied to the end is the next best option. Failing that, a straight needle with fishing line or thin thread will be awkward but will do.

4- Clean and prepare your equipment. Set out and sterilise your equipment away from dust or dirt. Either use boiling water, an open flame, or, at the very least, antiseptic spray.

5- Plan your stitches. Each stitch is individual (unless stitching up a hole such as a bullet wound or an area of impalement whereby you’d use a continuous stitch and then pull tight like a purse string), so plan out where you’re going to place them beforehand.

6- Puncture the skin about 3-5mm away from the wound, and attempt to have the needle breaking into the wound about 5mm in depth. Do the same for the other side. Should you be using a straight needle you will have to pinch up either side of the wound in order to aid the needle through effectively.

7- Pull the thread through, leaving enough length to tie off the individual stitch. Cut the thread and then tie off tightly using simple granny knots (note you will be using the same needle and thread throughout, so be sure to start with a reasonable length at the beginning to cater for all of the stitches).

8- Once having completed all of the stitches, clean the wound again with antiseptic spray and dress the wound appropriately.

9- Begin a course of antibiotics as soon as possible once having stitched up a wound.

Tips

Do not sterilise with alcohol, but if you have to, make sure it’s at least 40 proof.

Do not drink alcohol for a good while after having received field stitches, as the booze will weaken your immune system.

Have a friend suture the wound for you if possible.

Change the dressing every day for the first 3 days, keeping an eye out for signs of infection (localised swelling, pain and heat).

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