Thread: First Aid

Do not try to use any sort of super glue to fix an open wound since one of the main components in all super glues are a cyanide compound, which is VERY toxic. There's a reason it went from liquid stitches to fixing broken china, it was dangerous!
Still, it's really great for fixing chipped nails instead of having banged up finger for a month or two...

Originally Posted by Stuggi

Do not try to use any sort of super glue to fix an open wound since one of the main components in all super glues are a cyanide compound, which is VERY toxic. There's a reason it went from liquid stitches to fixing broken china, it was dangerous!
Still, it's really great for fixing chipped nails instead of having banged up finger for a month or two...

Eeek. Your post freaked me out, cause I use liquid bandages containing CA alot. So I did a bit of research. The following is from the controversial source of Wikipedia:

"Toxicity:
The fumes from CA are a vaporized form of the cyanoacrylate monomer that irritate sensitive membranes in the eyes, nose and throat. They immediately are polymerized by the moisture in the membranes and become inert. About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms.[4] It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction. The ACGIH assign a Threshold Limit Value exposure limit of 200 parts per billion. On rare occasions inhalation may trigger asthma. There can be no singular measurement of toxicity for all cyanoacrylate adhesives as there is a wide variety of adhesives that contain various cyanoacrylate formulations.
However, the United States National Toxicology Program and the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive have concluded that the use of ethyl cyanoacrylate is safe and that additional study is unnecessary.[5] 2-octyl cyanoacrylate degrades much more slowly due to its longer organic backbone which slows the degradation of the adhesive enough to remain below the threshold of tissue toxicity. Due to the toxicity issues of ethyl cyanoacrylate, the use of 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate for sutures is preferred."


Most liquid bandages on the market today do, in fact, use the 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate formulation to avoid that obnoxious death by poison potential side effect.


Moral: *Don't* use CA glues for closing wounds, unless it is one specifically marketed and formulated to do just that. No more Krazy GLuing your fingers back on after sawing one off!

I tried the CA glue for a blister that opened up while I was hiking. I read an article that said it worked great. Here is my advice. DON'T DO IT. It stings like you can't believe.