I stabbed my thumb with a knife as I was trying to seperate the flesh from the shell of a coconut. The *stabbity* isn't big, but it's rather deep and the blood won't stop. What shall I do? I applied the basics, alcohol and band-aid, but the bleeding just won't stop! Am I vitamin K defficient?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Get a clean, folded towel or something and apply pressure until it stops. It may also help to elevate your hand (like, sit on the couch or in a chair and rest your hand above your head on the top of it while applying the pressure.) If it soaks through, don't move the towel, but put another one on top of it. If it doesn't stop in half an hour with constant pressure, go to the ER. And be ready for a long wait.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(And in the future, bake your coconut in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes before cracking it and separating the flesh. Much easier.)
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Does that cook the coconut? What does it do to the water inside?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
You can also apply either sugar or cayenne pepper to the wound to stop the bleeding.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
*shudder*
I couldn't imagine putting pepper on a wound.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Salt plus onion is a thing my Guatemalan roommate did to stop bleeding and it really worked. I think it stings, though.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Are you up to date on your tetanus shot, Alt?
Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
You people are insane. Alcohol, cayenne pepper, salt? Follow KQ's advice. If it won't stop bleeding thats a good sign you need medical assistance, rather than a good sign to rub random things into the wound.
We don't live in the 21st century for nothing. Once it stops bleeding try maybe, soap first then, povidine iodine, bacitracin, or triple antibiotic ointment if its really a bad cut. But keep the beverages and spices out of it.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Am I the only one imagining that a blood-soaked mess AoD's keyboard is?
In the future, no alcohol. Wash with soap and water and apply a clean dressing and pressure. And what KQ said.
And after the bleeding stops or slows, bacitracin and a bandaid. No salt, no pepper, no onions. This is a wound, not a recipe!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
And if you REALLY want the liquid, punch holes in the "eye" areas with something controllable like a drill or using an icepick and hammer.
But, hey, that liquid isn't really that great, and it's not what you need for recipes, so just smash the thing.
YIKES!
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
The alcohol will just make it bleed more.
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
A source I trust says to not put anything on an open cut you wouldn't put in your eye.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I wouldn't put a bandaid in my eye.
*ow*
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
You would, actually, although perhaps not a band-aid per se.
I was an EMT, and if direct pressure won't make it stop then you need to see a doctor ASAP. Infections can be far worse than the actual cut, take my word for it. Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
in Boy Scouts, they told us:
1. Apply direct pressure while elevating thw wounded area, if possible.
2. slow blood supply via a pressure point. Elevation is good here too.
3. Last resort: tourniquet.
Of course, going to the ER may be preferable to losing a limb through loss of blood with the tourniquet. I recall a vague, but similar danger associated with the pressure point, but I've used it before and it worked okay. I guess it depends on whether you've got insurance or not...
Ultra-mega-mega-last resort, I can fashion a sling from a triangular piece of cloth and cart you around on a litter made from two sticks and a blanket.
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)