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sticking plasters!

(42 Posts)
Kiwiqueen123 Wed 20-Aug-25 21:08:16

Strange question I know but today when out walking I caught my lower leg, around about the ankle region, on some brambles. It bled profusely. Luckily I had a plaster with me but it took ages to undo the paper to get to the plaster. All the time I was trying to stem the bleeding with a hanky.

We have a selection of plasters in the house but none of them would open easily if you needed them in an emergency. Does anyone know of a go to plaster, simple to get out of its wrapping to apply as quickly as possible. There are lots out there but if anybody has a cure for the problem that would be great before I invest futher money in the less useful packs.

Casdon Wed 20-Aug-25 21:23:06

Don’t judge, because this makes me sound very odd! I’ve got an M&S strong mints tin, which is about 2inches by 3 inches, and I carry a couple of essentials in it - including a piece of plaster, of the fabric strip type, in my jeans pocket. It’s easy to put on if I need it quickly because it just got the plastic strips on the back, no cover. I’ve also got an antiseptic wipe, a safety pin, a tiny pen, and a couple of paracetamol in there. I’ll be the laughing stock of Gransnet now I expect.

crazyH Wed 20-Aug-25 21:41:45

No Casdon I’m not laughing and why do you think it’s odd.- except, can you open the tin easily.?
I have a really small makeup bag with 3 zipped compartments , one contains lipstick, mirror and a couple of loose wet wipes, the other with my money and cc, the middle compartment with emergency med, my asthma pump and ibuprofen. I must add a plaster as well. Good thinking Kiwiqueen

Allira Wed 20-Aug-25 21:54:29

No.
We've got Elastoplast, waterproof plasters (they don't stick) and those white plasters which are supposed to be skin-friendly. They're all a bit awkward!

It's a good idea to keep a tiny first aid kit in your bag.

One word of advice, remove that plaster and bathe your leg in salty water then use antiseptic cream or an iodine patch and a clean plaster, Kiwiqueen. I'm probably telling Granny to suck eggs so ignore!

MayBee70 Wed 20-Aug-25 21:58:21

I’ve been using a few plasters recently and, yes, I really struggle to get to the actual plaster and it did wonder what I’d do if I needed to use one quickly. Going to go through my plaster collection and see if any are easier to open than others.

Kiwiqueen123 Wed 20-Aug-25 22:11:08

Good advice here ladies. I've recently bought one of those bum bags for when I'm walking. I have a small plastic bag which should be big enough to pack the "essentials" into the bag. Have changed the plaster Allira. Thanks for your advice re the salty water.

Georgesgran Wed 20-Aug-25 22:23:55

I have several of those snap purses and in one, I’ve wipes for my specs, Imodium, paracetamol and several plasters, the simple type with the two plastic strips on the back. Currently, I’ve got Minions plasters, as it’s usually the DGSs who need them!

crazyH Wed 20-Aug-25 22:30:38

Georgesgran - oh yes, I carry Imodium everywhere 😂

MayBee70 Wed 20-Aug-25 22:46:51

crazyH

Georgesgran - oh yes, I carry Imodium everywhere 😂

I don’t leave home without Imodium!

MayBee70 Wed 20-Aug-25 22:48:10

Also piriton in case the dog gets stung by a wasp…and a tick remover.

Oreo Thu 21-Aug-25 07:47:04

Casdon

Don’t judge, because this makes me sound very odd! I’ve got an M&S strong mints tin, which is about 2inches by 3 inches, and I carry a couple of essentials in it - including a piece of plaster, of the fabric strip type, in my jeans pocket. It’s easy to put on if I need it quickly because it just got the plastic strips on the back, no cover. I’ve also got an antiseptic wipe, a safety pin, a tiny pen, and a couple of paracetamol in there. I’ll be the laughing stock of Gransnet now I expect.

Why would anyone judge? Any journey into the Amazon can be fraught with danger 😁 joke!
I always carry a couple of plasters just in case, but the other items sound a good idea.
Plasters now are so hard to get into aren’t they, even when you cut yourself in the home.
The best idea is to cut those rolls of plaster into strips of varying sizes as easy to open when you need them.Am going to buy one now asap.

Astitchintime Thu 21-Aug-25 08:02:31

The ones in our FA kit are individually sealed in a paper packet and on end has a slight extension to the seal that isn’t stuck together……..the idea is that you hold each flap and pull the packet apart but I don’t know the brand.
The idea of cutting plasters off a longer strip and containing them in a bag/tin sounds perfect, as long as they’re kept clean what’s the harm.
The thing I struggle with is any injury on my right hand/arm…….being right handed it is quite comical trying to apply a sticking plaster with my left hand!

AuntieE Sat 23-Aug-25 13:46:14

Add a small pair of scissors to that first aid kit! Individually wrapped plaster is hard to get out of the wrapping, unless you cut the end of the wrapping paper.

After that there should be no difficulty.

Babs03 Sat 23-Aug-25 13:54:16

Casdon

Don’t judge, because this makes me sound very odd! I’ve got an M&S strong mints tin, which is about 2inches by 3 inches, and I carry a couple of essentials in it - including a piece of plaster, of the fabric strip type, in my jeans pocket. It’s easy to put on if I need it quickly because it just got the plastic strips on the back, no cover. I’ve also got an antiseptic wipe, a safety pin, a tiny pen, and a couple of paracetamol in there. I’ll be the laughing stock of Gransnet now I expect.

I buy a long strip of fabric plasters and cut to size then put in a small zip up plastic bag in my handbag, the pieces you pull off the back are easy to take off.
I think the fabric backed plasters are the best.

Babs03 Sat 23-Aug-25 13:57:29

I also always carry painkillers, antibacterial wipes, and Rennies antacid tabs.
No Imodium though, might have to add that 🤔

Maggieanne Sat 23-Aug-25 14:13:04

haha, I had a Christmas (sorry) cracker which revealed a tiny pair of scissors, they're now in my bag with plasters, wipes and various bits and bobs. Those scissors have been used countless times, so useful.

knspol Sat 23-Aug-25 14:14:45

I carry a small square ziplock bag in my handbag with paracetamol, imodium, hay fever tabs and a couple of plasters. has proved very useful in the past. Thought I had a couple of safety pins in there too but when a friend needed one I realised they must have been used and not replaced.

Maggieanne Sat 23-Aug-25 14:19:06

I forgot, I have paracetamol and Rennies as well as safety pins, the tiny sewing kit has never been used so that's been removed now

Romola Sat 23-Aug-25 14:26:46

I spent a few days in an Air BnB with DiL's parents recently, Outlaw father not too steady on his feet and he fell in the street, grazing his hand on the gritty pavement I was the one with tweezers, antiseptic cream and plasters, surprised that the outlaw mother didn't have a mini first aid kit with her.

Vintagegirl Sat 23-Aug-25 14:28:23

Just reminding me to replace first aid box that got sold along with last car. Fabric elastoplast is my 'go to' that I get in long strips and cut into chunks. I still have some elderly tubes of Germolene ointment! I would also have some white dressings that do not stick to a wound and then over it some microporous tape. I dont seem to use a handbag post covid but car acts as back up when away from home.

grannybuy Sat 23-Aug-25 14:31:42

I too carry plasters in my bag, as well as painkillers, antacid tablets, loperamide ( anti diarrhoea ) capsules, buccastem ( anti nausea ) tablets, hand sanitiser, a small tin of Vaseline and clean tissues. I’m often asked by others for a painkiller or antacid!

Babs03 Sat 23-Aug-25 14:42:00

Ah yes I do have safety pins, all joined together like a little chain in a pocket of my bag. My old mum always had a well stocked handbag, with handkerchiefs, safety pins, a small tin of germolene and a little bottle of lavender water that she would hold under our noses when we felt travel sick, it actually made me feel a bit more sick. As far as I know she didn’t have plasters though.

62Granny Sat 23-Aug-25 14:43:40

I often cut the top of my fingers, usually when I am sorting out DH medication getting it out of the plastic and foil packaging🙄, I always say if a forensics team came into the house after I have tried to open a plaster they would have a field day, as for some reason this type of cut bleeds worse than anything. Before people say anything due to his disability DH can't sort his own medication out. I will take others advise and have a little bag with some already open to use quickly.

Babs03 Sat 23-Aug-25 14:58:34

62Granny

I often cut the top of my fingers, usually when I am sorting out DH medication getting it out of the plastic and foil packaging🙄, I always say if a forensics team came into the house after I have tried to open a plaster they would have a field day, as for some reason this type of cut bleeds worse than anything. Before people say anything due to his disability DH can't sort his own medication out. I will take others advise and have a little bag with some already open to use quickly.

I also have to be in charge of DHs meds, and have cut my fingers when getting tabs out of the foil blister packs.

Greyduster Sat 23-Aug-25 15:08:03

I use fabric strips too. Easy to cut to size. I cut my finger opening a tin of beans a couple of weeks ago. It was a deep cut - lots of blood. I started out with a broad strip and cut them narrower as it healed. With my current level of manual dexterity, if I’d had to mess about peeling the covers off the usual plasters, after finding one the right size, it would have got very messy!