Tag Archives: wound care

Sugardine make & use it

Sugardine manufacture and uses for wound care.

Sugardine is another old time wound care product that has stood the test of time.

Once made, Sugardine will be shelf stable for a very long time [years]. Having said that, do not make it too far ahead as it will take up room and resources that you may want to use for other things.

How it works, granulated sugar pulls the fluid out of wounds and bacteria, killing the bacteria. The wound will need to be inspected periodically and the dressing changed when the dressing becomes damp. Once the Sugardine becomes moist and the preparation is diluted it becomes a good breeding ground for bacteria. So the short of it is that you do need to be attentive to your patient’s needs.

History of Sugardine

Sugardine was an OLD treatment for wounds when I started practice over 40 years ago. Some sources tell of it being used in the War of Northern Aggression – AKA the 1st American Civil War. Some sources tell of a variation of this made with honey was used in the days of Pharaoh.

Supplies needed for this exercise include graduated measuring cup of 250 to 500 ml [1 or 2 cups], mixing bowl which ideally has a cover with it, mixing spoon, granulated white sugar and Betadine. [Betadine is a trade name for an antiseptic solution made from iodine 10%. There are other names for this product and the prices vary a lot- get whatever brand is cheapest as the generic is just as good as the trade name version. Be prepared to show ID as some states restrict the sale of iodine products as it can be used in the manufacture of some street drugs – but that is another story… take a copy of this article with you and if they question what you are doing only then show this to them]

Making Sugardine;

First wash your hands, then review this article and assemble the supplies you will need. This is a CLEAN procedure not sterile.

Start with about the amount of sugar as you expect to need of the finished product keeping in mind that you will need to tend the wound for several days. In this exercise we are starting with 1 cup [250 ml] of sugar, you will need about ½ cup [125 ml] of Betadine – add half [ 60 ml] and start mixing, SLOWLY incorporate the remaining Betadine solution only until you end up with a very stiff peanut butter consistency. The actual amount of Betadine that you will use depends on how humid it is in your area, so you may need a bit more OR less. Once done mixing cap the container of finished Sugardine. LABLE the container with product name, date of manufacture and your name [or initials if you are in a production setting in which case you would add the facility name too]. Clean your work station and wash your hands again. ***ALL good medical procedures begin and end with washing your hands***.

Use of Sugardine;

Generally this product is used for wet, draining wounds.

First wash your hands ;] then review this article and assemble the supplies you will need.
The supplies you will need include absorbent dressing of the correct size to cover the wound, whatever you are going to use to secure the dressing in place [tape or bandage], sterile water for irrigation, towels or chuk pads for under the affected area to contain the mess, clean rubber gloves and a trash can to put contaminated waste in.

Remove the old dressing and clean the wound. As genteelly as possible layer the Sugardine in to the wound kinda like you are making a PB & J sandwich. Cover with the new dressing and secure in place. Clean up the area and wash your hands.

Now comes the real fun part ;]

Document the procedure in the patient record which will contain your assessment of the wound, what you did and when you think the next dressing change should take place. This is important EVEN if you are the only one providing care for this person as it will help track the healing process and alert you to consider a change of tactics if things do not go as expected. If you are not the only one providing care it helps the others track changes in the patient’s condition too AND it helps them plan their shift and work load.

Keep in mind that this is only for after the shtf, until then do what your doctor tells you to do.

Dakin’s Solution

How to Make and Use Dakin’s Solution

Have you ever heard of Dakin’s Solution? In the medical field it is a common item for wound care. Dakin’s Solution, of course is the manufactured name from the person who invented it. Henry Drysdale Dakin was an English chemist who worked with amino acids and water analysis. He invented Dakin’s Solution when he was working at a temporary hospital in Compiegne, France in 1916 and invented it as a wound treatment. We have been using this for such a long time even if it is a generic we would still call it Dakin’s.

It is a solvent to dead cells and speeds up the separation of living and dead tissues when used to irrigate the wound. It does not sting or burn and has been credited with saving thousands of lives since World War I. During the Civil War more soldiers were lost to infection than gun shot wounds. I have personally used this solution when working as a Wound Care Nurse and know that it works very well for removing dead tissue and preventing infection. I put Dakin’s Solution on a gauze pad and wiped the wound, the combination of the solution and the motion of wiping removed the dead tissue and left the beefy red live cells clean. I would then put the solution on another gauze pad and dab onto the live cells as a protective layer to prevent infection. The wound was then ready to put on the dressing.

There are stronger solutions but they can damage the living cells or lose their potency in the presence of blood. Dakin’s Solution does neither. Dakin’s is effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and fungi.

You can also make this solution at home with ingredients you already have on hand. This solution will be very valuable after a disaster, so make sure you print out this blog post and put it in your first aid kit. Also it would be a good idea to make it a few times to make sure you can and that you are not making it for the first time in an emergency situation. This solution is unstable and deteriorates after a week. If you haven’t used all of it by the end of the week then use it as a cleaner in the kitchen or bathroom instead of wasting it.

You can also use Dakin’s solution as a mouthwash when you have a dental abscess. But spit out the rest of the solution and do NOT swallow it.

Adverse side effects are:
pain
burning sensation
rash
itching sensation
the skin around the wound turns red and swells
development of hives or blisters
IF your patient develops any of these signs reduce the concentration of the solution.

Recipe
Full Strength 3 ounces [90 ml or cc] sodiumhypochlorate 5.25 to 6 % trade name Clorox. ONLY use pure sodiumhypochlorate without any scents or other additives! 32 ounces water (4 cups or 1 quart) if you use the metric system that would be 960 ml or cc. In this solution you could mix it in 1 liter of water. [by the way distilled water is best]

½ Strength 45 ml/cc or 1.5 ounces sodiumhypochlorate 5.25 to 6 %, to 1 quart or 1 liter of water.

¼ Strength 23 ml/cc sodiumhypochlorate 5.25 to 6 %, to 1 quart or 1 liter of water.

Add ½ teaspoon baking soda to any strength to buffer it to cut down on the stinging feel.

Instructions
⦁ Measure out 1 quart or 1 liter distilled water if available, tap water would work too. Pour into a clean pan.
⦁ Add ½ teaspoonful of baking soda to the water and heat until bubbles form or the baking soda is dissolved
which ever happens 1st, stirring helps the baking soda go into solution faster.
⦁ Place the cooled solution in a clean jar. The jar does not have to be STERILE.
⦁ Add sodiumhypochlorate/Clorox (whichever concentration you are making)
⦁ Close lid tightly and shake a few times.
⦁ Unopened jars can be stored for one month after you have prepared them.
⦁ Label the jar with what strength and the solution, date you made it and who made it. As an example –
Dakin’s solution full strength 1916-Jan-19 RBO

I am not a doctor and this is a homemade remedy intended for use only after SHTF. (so you know the saying) I recommend that you do your own research on anything that you read so you are assured of its use and the accuracy of the information provided. What works for one person does not necessarily work for another.

This will be good to know for a grid down or wilderness healthcare situation.

cross ref http://www.preparesurvivethrive.us/wound-care-from-the-top/

http://www.preparesurvivethrive.us/knit-bandages/

and for sterilizing surgical instruments review http://www.preparesurvivethrive.us/93/

PS, WHY does the jar not have to be STERILE? ; ] Respond in the comments section.