Blood blister 1st aid?

[fightingquaker13]

I went to the range yesterday when visiting the Old Man in Naples. It was a very nice outdoor joint, cheap, safe and uncrowded. They want $35 to join and $25 dollars to shoot (first session free). They provide targets and you can bring your own ammo, a rarity here in So. Fl. Any way we were shooting with one of the neighbors who had a brand new Alaskan in .44 mag. This is a very sweet little gun (for very large values of little ). Heavy as hell, but quite nice. We started out using a rest. Don't ask me why, but the owner wanted us to each fire a cylinder from the rest to compare groupings at 15 yards. His gun, his ammo, and so yes sir. Anyway, I got a little sloppy and got the heel of my hand caught between the grip and rest. The result was a nice fat blood blister. Middle aged gun guys, being middle aged gun guys, this set off a debate (of course ).
A. do you lance it and drain it?
B. do you leave the damn thing alone (my POV)?
This is obviously trivial, but I found it amusing that about nine guys were arguing over how best to treat the "deadly wound". God help anyone who actually manages to shoot themselves. 
Thoughts?
FQ13

[blackwolfe]

Lance and drain.  Use sterile technique.  May want to cover as protection from ripping ogg the blistered skin untill the new growth becomes less sensitve.  This always worked well fo me.

Pinched my thumb in the hood of my truck at the gas station once and immediately raised a blood blister the size of a small grape.  I asked the attendent for a paper towel and a band aid.  Took out my poket knife and let it bleed.  I thought the gal was going to puke and feint at the same time.  The blister was still groing when I lanced it and I felt immediate relief when I did it.

[TAB]

if it hurts drain it, other wise leave it alone.

[m25operator]

I will agree on draining as soon as the blood comes up, and sterile treatment with a cover, especially if it is a large blister.

Amazing the subjects we discuss.

[fightingquaker13]

Thanks for the replies. I will go with consensus and lance the beast. It is a PITA as it hits the steering wheel when I drive. Also, for those in Naples, I cannot reccomend this range enough. The Skeet and rifle ranges are two separate joints. Skeet and clays is absurd. $300 per year and $10 per round, with no daily fees if you just want to show up and shoot a round. Thanks, but no. The rifle though is only $25 per day (no time limit), targets included, and you can bring your own ammo. The owner is a good and strict range master and more than willing to provide free instrucion on grip and sighting in etc. I asked whether rapid fire was permitted, and the answer was "It depends on whether you are safe and how crowded the place is". To me, this is the right answer. Its called Louland LLC Gunclub on Tamiami Trail about 20 miles east of Naples. Good people and a good basic range.
FQ13 who is not above a shameless plug for a good outfit

[Sponsor]

[1911 Junkie]

Well, I have bad news.

The best thing you can do is cut off the entire hand.

And since that means you won't be able to shoot anymore, I'll gladly give you 25 cents on the dollar for your guns (to help with medical expenses and all). Only because I feel bad for your situation.



I would say just drain it if it bothers you. Tiny hole, leave the skin in place over it until it heals enough underneath not to be painful.

[twyacht]

As a senior member of the "Blood Blister Society", if it's raised, sterilize a sewing needle, lance it, drain it, and put a band-aid on it....

C'mon FQ your making the Northern Members think were softy's........

Walk it off........

[Solus]

I was taught to lance and drain the blister to minimize the amount of skin separation.

[Fatman]

Real men bite them.

[fightingquaker13]

Real men bite them.

Yeah, yeah Fatman. My basic attitude towards medical problems is ignore it till it goes away or it kills you. Either way, problem solved. I was just so amused by 9 sixty year old plus men arguing over what might, at best, be considered a boo-boo, that I felt compelled to post this. Honestly, I didn't even notice until the range master pointed it out (probably hyper aware of law suits due to living in Fl.) and then everyone stopped shooting to opine. It was as bad as this board. I am fully convinced that inside every gun guy there is an old woman just waiting to get out. It was worth the $25 in amusement value even if I had never fired a shot. Though the Austrian range master, (wearing a "Got Glock" T-shirt) taking my G-26 away from me in disgust at my 4" groupings at 15 yards and proceeding to put a full mag rapid fire into the X ring was worth it as well. His comment, "Gaston spent decades on this, you could spend a few hours", followed by a half hour of correction of my stance and breathing was worth it as well. It was humbling, but damn sure informative. I was in the ten ring (though not the X) by the time we had gone through a hundred rounds. Not bad for $25.
FQ13 who ain't proud and will cheerfully take take sh-t if the lesson learned is worth it. In this case, it really was. How tight to hold my  wrist, when to exhale and where to focus on the sights equalled a 1" decrease in my groups. Free of charge. Can't beat that with a stick.