JWR,
Thank you for all your efforts. I pray they are never needed but fear otherwise. We run a safety training and supply company specializing in custom first aid/survival kits for various customers. We agree that Coban is wonderful stuff. A hint for the budget minded preppers use a vet supply house or feed store and buy “vet wrap”– same stuff at lower price. – A.K.S.
Jim:
Coban is not a panacea for your wound dressing needs. While it does offer self-adherence, ease of use, durability, availability, selection of sizes and colors, etc. There are a few flaws with this material. The first and most dangerous is while this material is self adhering, it is also progressive in nature, e.g. it will continue to tighten over the first few minutes on it’s own. This means there is a learning curve to the proper application of Coban and serially (several times) monitoring to ensure the extremity distal (further from the heart) has not been subject to neuro-vascular compromise, this is easily done by determining light touch sensation, capillary refill, pulse and movement. Second, it is not typically re-usable nor as durable as a simple Ace bandage.
I have used both daily as a Physician Assistant in both Orthopedics and Emergency Medicine and both have their advantages/disadvantages, but if I had to chose, I would pack a few aces. – Charles T.
Hi,
I love Coban! We use it at Appleseed [rifle marksmanship training] weekends to hold pipe insulation to rifle stocks to build up cheek rests. It is great to bind anything you don’t want to mar with duct tape. We purchase it by the case from veterinarian supply houses, it is much cheaper and comes in MANY fun colors. Look for it as vet wrap. – Elizabeth B. in Colorado
Mr. Rawles,
I just wanted to echo Frank L.’s enthusiasm for the class of medical products generally known as self-adhering bandages. In 2010 I earned my EMT certification for prep skills and I work in the EMS world on the side. We use the self-adhering bandages for many applications. They not only perform compression, but will also adhere when wet. They are excellent for holding a dressing in place and are superior to medical tape for such applications. I helped provide medical coverage for a church youth camp at a beach with 2700+ students and another 700+ adults. We used a case of this stuff for sprains, lacerations, abrasions, and holding ice packs in place. I keep several rolls in my personal medical gear at all times. Avoid storing in high heat as prolonged exposure to hot temps will degrade the adhesive. Thanks. – Old School