How To Climb with a Bloody Cut

This is basically a climber's "crack tape glove" with a medical glove underneath! 

It's the stupidest things that could put a major dent in plans!

Example: While waiting for my climbing partner to pick me up for a weekend of rock, I picked up a drinking glass and managed to shatter it in my hands. How it happens remains a mystery. 

What resulted was a bloody towel, soaked band-aids  and deep gashes in my hands in the the most inconvenient possible spot for crack climbing: On top of my finger and thumb knuckles. 

Ouch. 

But... There was rock to climb! As luck would have it, my climbing partner, Chap Grubb, turned out to be EMT trained with MacGyver creativity. 

Solution? 

1. Clean and bandage wounds according to Wilderness First Aid guidelines  (irrigate/flush wound with water, apply antibiotic ointment and sterile gauze). 

2. Cut off the fingers of a medical rubber glove

3. Cinch glove tight on hand and wrap in place with climber tape (athletic tape) in the style of a climber's "crack tape glove". Note: We taped the fingers in place to help prevent rips. (See picture above and below)

FYI: How to tape a "Crack Glove": http://www.climbing.com/skill/better-tape-gloves/

4. Your wound is protected and padded with gauze and Neosporin. The glove not only protects from dirt, but also keeps all of your first aid work in place, so crack climb to your heart's content!

Really, yes! My heart was full with only the joy that crack climbing brings, and the added bonus? With good climbing technique, the glove didn't tear! And extra bonus? I didn't feel any pain or discomfort, even on a hot Vantage, WA day. 

Don't forget to take it off at night to clean and re-do the process for a second day of rock. 

Climb on! 

The glove held up after a long day of climbing: Palm view