Hopefully I don't come off as a know-it-all, but I knew about all, but the inner parts names. One thing to note about using it for sutures would be really bad due to the high potential for infection, but it would work great for repairing gear like tarps, and even clothing if your stuck in the elements for a bit. It's always a good idea to keep at least two bottles of superglue in your kit. One for gear repair, and one for medical emergencies. Stitches can break, but CA glue will be a bit stronger, and can essentially weld the skin back together until you can get proper medical attention. Just remember that CA glue gets hot when it sets so it's not going to be comfortable.
Most of them, I was an 11B. We just called 550. It's also a pretty close second to 100 mph tape in terms of the number of everyday uses we have for it. Aside from the medical tourniquet we carry as part of our med pouch, we will also use 550 for one. Army first aid is basically, if it's an extremity and it's spurting - tourniquet.
Please please please don’t use paracord as a tourniquet,it’s too thin and will sink too much into the skin before stopping the bleeding. If you have to,try to put some cloth between the cord and the skin (a bandana would be good)
Paracord should only be used as a torniquet in an extreme emergency when there are no other options. With it being so thin it will cut the skin and arteries and crush tissue creating a whole other set of problems. A torniquet should be wide enough to spread the load and use pressure over a wide area to avoid causing further tissue damage. Also stitching a wound outside of a qualified medical facility should only be done in a no options left scenario and only to stop bleeding in a true life or death situation because if done under less than sterile conditions it will cause dirt and bacteria to be enclosed in a perfect breeding ground and will cause deep tissue infection and necrossis. It is best to either tape the wound closed or wrap it tightly and allow for drainage and in the case of deeper wounds, for it to heal properly from the inside out. Stitching a wound should only be done to stop bleeding in a life or death situation where the patient will recieve care at a qualified facility in a reasonable amount of time where the wound can be treated properly. If your first aid course is teaching suturing as wound treatment in the field, you may want to reconsider your choice.
Paracord can be made of either one of those materials, just depends on the manufacturer. Most reputable paracord sellers will list whether it's nylon or polyester when you're purchasing it. Usually the stiffer cord is the polyester and the softer flexible cord is nylon.
What I'd really like to know is how paracord is made so that I could create my own color variants for it beyond navy green or that bright shade of orange I've noticed you prefer to be the go-to color for your slung knots
To be totally honest, paracord is NOT recommended to be used as a tourniquet unless you have a way to distribute the pressure, maybe wrap a shirt or something around first. The cord is so narrow that it collapse the vessels and do more damage than good. If there is absolutely no other option, just know you may end up facing an amputation.
Yes using Paracord as a TQ is bad. Yes using the inner core for stitches is not the best idea, better than bleeding to death. Could boil the fibers to help prevent infection. But if you are a long ways from proper medical facilities you do what you have to do at that time. Just like drinking questionable water and you have no way of filtering and purifying it. If you know rescue is a day or two away or dying of dehydration, drink up. It is a gamble that each individual needs to make based on their own abilities.
It is quite funny that the word for the inner part is a german word and the meaning is the same. Kern = core. In german this part is called Seele = soul.
Your illustration of the paracord strength or lack of where you cut one by using friction is illustrating the wrong thing. In what you did the paracord didn't rupture due to strength but due to melting. Indeed if you tie some paracord and let it catch the fall of a weight it will rupture with a much lower weight than 550 pound as the shock force will be quite important (paracord is mostly static so it will be actually huge) when climbing the force involved are not really when moving but when catching a fall and for that not only do you need much thicker rope but you need it to be dynamic (elastic if you want) so the shock is absorbed and peak force is reduced.
Please do not use 550 as a tq. Thats a horrible idea. It’ll cut straight through your skin. It’ll do more damage before it helps anything. Tourniquets have to be wider, like a belt, not a shoe string
