www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
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It's good to be back in Ireland and writing again for this great magazine. I have been away in Sweden these
past few weeks attending a survival course at The Pathfinder School based in Scandinavia. Courses like this
are always an asset to building up your core set of skills. One thing I learned and wanted to share with you all
is how to suture a wound without puncturing the skin and also allow for irrigation. This is a last ditch effort
and a great one to know should the necessary kit not be to hand.
Joe Price is one of the co-founders of the "Living to Learn" Bushcraft
Community, a member of the Irish Bushcraft Club and an Irish Ambassador
for Mora Knives.
He works in The Camo Shop www.thecamoshop.ie and you can follow the
'Living to Learn' community online:
www.facebook.com/groups/livingtolearn/
After an initial triage assessment you may need
some further help stopping or stemming the flow
of bleeding. Start by cutting or ripping strips of
duct tape to the required length. These can either
be 1-inch strips or a large strip. The larger strips are
easier if performing self-aid.
Next you will need to fold the top section of these
strips over a piece of cordage creating a channel
but also leaving a sticky tail to adhere to the skin.
This cordage should be double the size of the af-
fected area.
Carefully place the strips of duct tape on either
side of the wound making sure to leave a good
gap. You want to be able to pull the wound closed
without the duct tape touching. This will allow for
constant irrigation.
Next you want to suture or boot lace stitch the
pieces together working underneath your main cord
but never piercing the skin. This is one of the best
things about this method, as it doesn't cause any
more immediate trauma to the skin.
Tightening it down the whole way up just finish
simply with a strong knot.
As always methods like this will never replace con-
ventional methods of first-aid. But we practice these
things for when we find ourselves stuck in those situ-
ations where convention isn't prevalent and speed
dictates results.
BY JOE PRICE
