What Are Safety Pins In FAKs Used For?

I know of some the uses for safety pins. I've noticed that they are included in FAKs, even very small ones. So, they must be important for FA. But my question is what are they actually used for in this capacity? Can someone fill me in? Thanks in advance.

I have used safety pins in a number of ways for FA; securing slings, swaths, bandages (triangular or other cloth bandages), removing splinters, lancing blisters, and other effed up foot repairs... I am sure that many other can add to this list.

They are very useful repair items also. Light, cheap, compact and versitile!

...fixing clothes, an improvised fishhook...

Keeping an airway open in the backcountry by pinning the tougue to the lower
lip.

I've been using mine to pin my tent door closed when the zipper failed.

... hanging a red Photon III, on the back of my vest's shoulder, when my bike's rear light failed...

Their primairy use is to secure a triangular bandage, but they can also be used for all sorts of things. For example removing splinters or ticks <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Working with cloth generally - especially bandages, slings etc, but also repairs for tears or missing buttons. If you have a pair of pliers you can straighten them out and use them as probes or skewers, or bend them into other shapes to act as supports, hinges, fixings etc. They are a versatile tool for improvising with.

"Keeping an airway open in the backcountry by pinning the tougue to the lower lip."

Ooooowwww! With the blood supply in the tongue and lips, I would think that would be contraindicated. (Keep the airway open so the blood can run into it???) <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Why not just keep a clothespin handy? <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sue

The large stainless steel horseblanket pins are also useful. Three inches long, about $1 apiece.

Although I shudder to imagine what use Clearwater would put THOSE to! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Susan, I agree with your comment on the Yuck factor of safety pinning a tongue, but I've read it in some Wilderness medicine books in the past. My bet is a clothespin wouldn't hold. Perhaps some other type of clamp.
One of my trauma surgeon friends said that if it's so much of a problem in the field, just SUTURE it to the lower lip. But I don't carry sutures.....

Hi Susan,

While it sounds gross, it is an effective technique and is taught in a number of wilderness EMS programs. Maintaining a patent airway is effectively accomplished without actually having a medical airway device. As to the blood issue, think of it this way, thousands of people have tongue and lip piercings, bleeding is rarely a problem.

Pete

To close the fly of your pants if the zipper breaks. I have done that!!!