I have been carrying WoundSeal®, BleedStop™, and, more recently, New-Skin® liquid bandage for years without needing to use them. Until now.
In a hurry to open a securely over-wrapped milk bottle for my desperately-needed morning coffee, I sliced open my hand with my sharpest Wüsthof knife. Be careful where a knife is pointing when trying to pry shrink wrap off. Geez… and I pride myself on being the safety monitor!
The bleeding would not stop. Pressure, hand in the air, multiple bandages wrapped with paper towels, and it still would not lessen. I pulled out the little-used medicine box and found the BleedStop and WoundSeal. WoundSeal is a granular powder and comes out of the tube in a puff.
The bleeding stopped! At least momentarily.
I bandaged myself up and went off to the store, where I promptly bumped my hand with my phone and was horrified when I was dripping blood on the floor. Yes, I know a quick trip to Urgent Care and a few stitches would have helped.
My next try was New-Skin. It seemed a lot like clear fingernail polish and smelled like it, too. It did the job, but only momentarily.
Finally, another dose of WoundSeal on the cut, a bandage, and all was well. I am restocking BleedStop and WoundSeal and making sure I have an adequate supply in our house and RV. In an emergency or even a stupid move with a paring knife, it really works.
RELATED
- BleedStop should be in every first aid kit to stop bleeding
- Important tow vehicle tip for first aid while traveling
- What you need to know about first aid for burns
- Getting sick, or worse, while RVing: Precautions to take
RVT1270
In addition to direct pressure, dressing, elevation, and chemical (Blood Stop powder), other ways to control bleeding are:
Cold packs
Pressure dressing
Pressure points
Calm
Splint
Tourniquet
Thanks for this info. I have bleed stop in the camper & in our car & truck. I hadn’t heard of wound seal but it is in my cart now. Seems like the former would get more use & bleed stop would be for a major issue. I was grating cheese a couple years ago on our 1st day out on a 2-3 week trip. Took off a good chunk of my thumb & could not get it to quit bleeding. Sure wish I had one of these products on hand then. Amazing how awkward it is not having the use of your thumb!
Thank you for the recommendation and discussion, Nanci, and thank you Emily for re-running this. I bought this for DW and my mother after reading the previous appearance of this. The thought of it is some unsettling, but it serves an important purpose. Have a great week and safe travels!