knife/blade sterilizing

[shadowpsi]

Wash the knife blade and handle in alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, but still prefer alcohol. It kills bugs dead. Don't use a knife with a wooden handle mold and other things can grow inside the wood which is bad

although hydrogen peroxide is better for cleaning a cut if the hydrogen peroxide bubbles on the cut don't worry that is normal

[Eclecta]

Boiling water does wonders...

[Craze]

Alcohol (like rubbing alcohol) works GREAT, but in a pinch, if you really are desperate to sterilize something, vodka works well too. but ONLY IF you have NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE to sterilize with.

[RevDevon]

agrees with with all of the proceeding procedures ..though will state preferably a lancet would be a better medium as they are sterile and disposable

[shadowpsi]

a lancet is better but for some they may not be too easy to get, also some people don't bleed very well lol

[Craze]

Lancets are hard to get out here. the places I've been to require medical confirmation that you need it.

[RevDevon]

strange ...you should be able to get at any drug store does not require a script

[shadowpsi]

I believe it's state laws

[Craze]

Rev and I live in the same state, I believe, if not the same city.

It could be that they were just putting me on ( I admit, If I saw me walking into a drugstore I wouldn't sell me lancets either lol), sut thats just been my personal experience, before I moved out here, I was living in MAssachusetts, and it was VERY easy for me to get them out there.

[Gabrielle]

also, on the topic of alcahol, you have to let it dry. I remember reading about it on the old board, can't remember who posted it though. But yeah, some germs can still live in the alcahol while it is wet, it has to be dry for it to have done it's job compleatly

[shadowpsi]

sipish posted that

[Gabrielle]

that's right! thanks, i could picture her icon, the name that belonged to it just wouldn't come though.

[Eclecta]

That is just odd. I have even purchases hypodermics at the drug store... Granted they did ask me what type of insulin they were for and the answer can vary.. But I said Humulin R ... Novalin in another brand ...

Don't attempt to draw blood tho unless you have training... (which I have... nurse in army back in the 90's)

[shadowpsi]

hmm maybe store polcy then

[Camazotz]

Originally Posted by sipesh
alcohol in itself does not always kill bacteria. You actually have to let the item that was immersed in the alcohol dry a bit before all the bacteria are dead. For some reason, they always forget to mention that little tidbit. Alcohol, it turns out allows some bacteria to survive, it is more bacteriostatic than antiseptic, until the drying occurs. The rapid surface temperature change and crenation the bacteria go through while drying is what is most fatal to them. So, wave that blade in the air for a second to make sure the cutting edge is dry before cutting (besides, alcohol in a wound hurts like a mother!!)

[Darkened_Insanity]

Just out of curiousity is a lancet the same thing as a scouple? (sp?) These things would probably be easy for me to get ahold of because my boyfriends dad is a docter.

[Craze]

you mean a scalpel? No, a lancet is like those finger pricky needle things that doabetics use to test thier blood sugar, a scalpel is a surgical tool used for cutting flesh and muscle. if you didn't mean scalpel...then I dunno lol

[shadowpsi]

these are lancets

http://www.surglex.com/images/xx/Blood%20Lancet.JPG

[Merticus]

Pocket lancet w/case (not what you would think though)... but rarely find the need for such. Never found if difficult to locate modern lancets/hypodermics/etc. though.. know enough diabetics/doctors/etc. - even used to be a local volunteer for the red cross.. irony. But alas almost exclusively psi so not applicable.

http://www.merticus.com/images/Lancet.jpg

[shadowpsi]

wow talk about old school that thing looks cool lol

[Camazotz]

Yup... wow *grins*. I don't like lancets personally, but having seen that one I want one heh

Cama

[RedRaven219]

That is quite beautiful actually. I personally hate lancets, bad experiences with them as a child. Stupid..pricky..finger..things.

I use an exacto set that I bought just for the purpose. I put together an entire feeding kit with all the essentials: bandaids in many sizes, gauze, alcohol(91% instead of standard 70%) peroxide, hand sanitizer, the blade kit ofcourse, and a pain numbing anaseptic wash.

It kind of doubles as a first aid kit too.

[Camazotz]

That's a great idea... myself I managed to acquire a load of sterile swabs which are just brilliant for cleaning the area before and after feeding.

[Camazotz]

I still think the best and safest way to go is sterile, disposable razor blades... those are certainly my preference. Swab the area beforehand, open up the blade with clean hands..swab again after feeding to clear any bacteria transferred from the mouth and then cover with micropore tape or a plaster (generally just for a day and then uncover to let it heal more quickly).

Slightly off-topic as regards blade sterilising, but after feeding, just take the time to channel some energy through the area where the cut has been made. You'll find this speeds up the healing process no end.

Cama

[FaeInTheShadows]

I know some people find that lancets don't draw enough blood. So they prefer other means.

[Camazotz]

Preist and I just found a new brand of disposable blades named Zorrik... they're pretty much the same as the Wilkinson sword but a LOT less expensive. Thank goodness for the InHome shops for those living in the UK :P

Cama

[Gabrielle]

i also find that this info is good for at-home piercings, just trade blade for needle and go to a pro for any hard-to-do areas.

[Master_Thaddeus]

Lancets are 8 bucks for a hundred and shouldnt nned a script to check yourself so you will kno what your sugar level is. Its common practice. Go on ebay and get them

[Blixium]

I'm not meaning to sound so, annoying.
But I use the um, razor sharp custom teeth, dig them in,
stuck up the blood like straws. They're really easy to use,
only cost me £250. Plus, it's good when your donor likes
the sensation of it too. xP

You're probably wondering how a 16 year old managed to
get ahold of them without parents knowing, really quite
easily actually. xD Just told the dentist I needed moulds
of my teeth, and sent the moulds to some perfessional
in america, and got them within 4 weeks. All for £250, bargain. ;D

[Alyushia]

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They used to have disposable scalpels too. I don't see them right now, but you might find them with more of a look around.