Okay, okay, so the woodworking community has spent all week talking about how to be safe in the shop, but let’s be real: Accidents happen. So when they do, how do you treat it? From time to time I read in the forums or bulletin boards about treating cuts with Super Glue, and invariably someone questions how safe it is to do so. So for Woodworking Safety Week 2008, I spent a half hour Googling the topic and here’s what I have for you:
It’s fine. Go for it.
Okay, now for the longer answer. One of the first practical uses of Super Glue (also referred to as “CA” for its chemical name, cyanoacrylate) was to treat wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War – to control the bleeding until they could get back to the hospital. It wasn’t just used externally, either – it was apparently used for such things as patching up lacerated livers as well.
CA is a great workshop solution because it instantly and securely seals off the cut and quickly eliminates pain (because the pain, apparently, is from oxygen hitting the exposed nerve endings). It wears off naturally in a day or two, so you may need to reapply – but by then, the bleeding has stopped and the pain is much less anyway. CA apparently also reduces scarring.
Experts (who are these guys anyway?) say that CA can irritate the skin and should not be used on deep cuts. A more helpful “expert” advises that over-the-counter CA is less preferred because it has a cheaper type of methyl alcohol in it. No one seems to have a problem with using CA on smallish surface cuts, especially those that can easily be closed up while glued. For a medical variant of CA, try Dermabond, Band-Aid Liquid Bandage or 3M No-Sting Liquid Bandage Spray.
Personally, I’ve recently become brave enough to try it, and now I’m a big fan of Super Glue. Just last month I ran a marking knife into my thumb up to the nail. After a minute of holding it under the faucet, I dried it off, glued it up and was back to woodworking in minutes, with no worry about bleeding on the workpiece. And just yesterday I ripped a fingernail pretty bad at the pool (when is Swimming Pool Safety Week, anyway?), and put some Super Glue over the nail to help seal it up. Yeah!
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May 9, 2008 at 4:58 am
Bob Easton » Blog Archive » Wood Workers Safety Week
[...] Super Glue: Safe for Treating Cuts? [...]
May 9, 2008 at 8:47 am
Luke Townsley
I am not a doctor or otherwise qualified to offer medical advice, but I have found that ground Cayenne pepper is really handy to have around when you have a deep cut that won’t stop bleeding.
My procedure is to rinse the dirt off the wound and then apply cayenne powder directly to the laceration. This has the effect of stopping the bleeding incredibly quickly. (I have no idea how well this would or wouldn’t work for arterial bleeding.) It is also said to offer some anti bacterial properties.
After that, I will treat it with a natural herbal cream, aloe, or whatever, and bandage it up.
Not too long ago, we had visitors and someone got cut on their leg in the kitchen and just couldn’t get the bleeding stopped. We were getting blood everywhere. Not pretty. I went to the closet, got out the cayenne, sprinkled it on, and presto, back to serving company and cleaning the blood off the kitchen floor.
You can buy larger amounts of cayenne cheaply at http://www.bulkherbstore.com . The “Eden salve” they sell is really great for putting on after the cayenne. Pretty impressive stuff.
May 9, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Friday’s Safety Links | The Wood Whisperer Woodworking Video Podcast and Blog
[...] Super Glue: Safe For Treating Cuts? Share: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
May 10, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Woodworkers Safety Week 2008 A Success! | Woodworker's Guide
[...] Super Glue: Safe For Treating Cuts? [...]
May 12, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Passionista
One of the most handy blog posts I’ve read in awhile
.
thanks!
October 30, 2009 at 8:50 am
Jude Stringfellow
No joking – - In 1984 I cut my left ring finger to the bone transferring a glass bowl from one side of the kitchen sink to the other – - it hit the middle. So, there I was bleeding all over the place. I had enough nerve to run cold water over my finger and then wrap it with a clean towel. Not having a car to take myself to the doctor I reached for the “Super Glue” and applied it very generously. (I will add that the cut was diaginal)
To my amazement the pain disappeared! It was hard to bend for a few days, but it was fine. Today I can’t see the scar unless I tilt my hand just right in the sun.
I had NO problems with my fingers, no problems with infection. It was a miracle then, and I use it today when I have to.
November 16, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Eric
Sorry it’s taken so long to reply to this! Your story is great – I’ve heard of lots of people using super glue for minor cuts, but nothing from people using it for “surgery”! Thanks for sharing your experience.