3M Vetbond - Surgical Super Glue is a surgical glue.
After veterinary procedures, vetbond was developed to close surgical incisions.At a fraction of the cost, it is very similar to Dermabond.
Although it is not sterile and not FDA approved for use on humans, it remains flexible after hardening and releases very little heat as it cures.The bottles have separate single-use, thin tip applicators.
I've found that just using the bottle works better than the applicators.Glue can always be opened with a knife or scissors, even though it is in the squeeze bottle tip.
I've used the same bottle dozens of times over the course of a year without any problems.The bottle can be contaminated if you use your best judgement.
If you've only used it on yourself, you know you don't have any diseases, and the bottle has been kept clean, then it's fine.If you use it on a stranger and the bottle gets covered in blood or blood gets inside, just get a new one; don't take the risk.
Vetbond is marketed for animal use.The glue works well on both human and animal skin, but it has not been approved by the FDA for use in humans.
The lack of FDA appoval does not mean that the glue is toxic to humans.FDA approval takes a long time, is expensive, and it applies to not only the glue, but the container it is held in, so there are quite a few reasons why 3M may not want to apply.
When water touches blood it will cause a chemical reaction that will make the glue hard.It's difficult to keep an animal from slobbering, so this can be a big help.
One of the best reasons to choose vetbond is that it begins to harden very quickly, so you don't have to hold the animal for long.
There is a sealed plastic squeeze bottle.Cut off the tip of the squeeze bottle to open it.
I had the chance to try this glue in a real life emergency while visiting my family for Christmas.
My mother cut her left index finger while cutting lettuce with a sharp knife.The edges of the cut were smooth despite the bleeding.
I got my first aid kit, took out Vetbond, and had her hold pressure with the gauze on the wound.
I sealed the wound with glue faster than a clot could form and the hemostatic gauze didn't do any better.
I have used Vetbond before for smaller cuts, and the glue had dried inside the nozzle.I used a pair of scissors to cut off the blocked tip, and had her use a piece of cloth to expose a small part of the wound so I could glue it.She was shaking from the pain and it was difficult to get the gauze off the wound at the same time.
I had her pinch below the cut to stop the blood flow.I was able to glue the edges after the wound slowed.It wasn't pretty, but the bleeding was controlled.
My father and I took her to the emergency room.The doctor told us that if she was careful not to reopen the cut, it would heal better if they left it alone.
He said she probably lost the tip of her finger because her fingertips don't have good circulation and poking more holes with a needle wouldnt help.
It usually takes at least 30 minutes for a cut to be sealed in an emergency room.The tissue around the cut has been deprived of oxygen and is starting to grey.The skin healed all the way up to the edges of the cut after I sealed it.
The doctor advised using a functional splint with a guarded tip to prevent bumping the cut during the day or while sleeping.I made a position-of-function splint with a curved guard after cutting a piece off my SAM splint.
My mother depends on her fingers for her work.She was able to get back to work in about 3 weeks after having Vetbond in her first aid kit.
My first experience with Vetbond as an emergency surgical glue was positive, and I recommend adding it to every first aid kit now more than ever.
Peter Oldani graduated from college.As part of New York State's initiative to prepare civilian organizations for disaster response, I worked as an EMT to gain hands on experience in emergency medicine and completed active shooter training.
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