8. Worst Case Scenario: Cauterize the Wound
If a tourniquet is not good enough or you do not have the ability to make one, you may need to consider cauterizing a serious wound. However, it is vital that you understand that this is extremely dangerous and can lead to a variety of other problems, including a life-threatening infection. Therefore, you will still need to seek medical attention as quickly as possible after the wound has been cauterized.
To perform a cauterization, you will first need to find something metal and clean it thoroughly before placing it into a fire. Next, it is necessary to remove the metal before it begins to glow red. If you miss this point and the metal is glowing red or white, you will need to wait until it cools down to the proper point.
Be sure to give the person who is about to undergo cauterization something to bite down on. Press the hot metal against the wound for a couple of seconds, then remove it to see if there is still any active bleeding. You might need to press the metal down again a few times for a couple of seconds each, but this is better than holding it in place for too long the first time.
Make sure that you clean the cauterized wound after it is closed. This can be done by dousing it in alcohol, which will require the person in question to have something to bite down on again. Although this entire procedure can save a life during an emergency situation, we cannot stress enough how dangerous it is. Only use cauterization as a worst case, last ditch resort.
Now that you know several different techniques for sealing a wound, you are much more prepared to save a life. However, please be aware that closing off certain wounds, including minor bites, can actually be a bad idea. This is because bites and other minor wounds run the risk of being infected, and if you seal the wound, you will actually seal the infection into your body.