More good advice from the Gurkha Regiment Army medic!

As mentioned in my previous posting "Once you pop you just can't stop!" our friendly Gurkha Regiment army medic, gave us for more tips than I can actually remember, but one very interesting one related to the question of whether or not to "Pop!" any blisters that appear.

The advice was as follows:

1.  Sterilise a needle over a flame (from a match or lighter);
2. Thread the needle with some cotton - about one and a half inches in length;
3. Then pierce the bottom of the blister with the needle, passing the needle and cotton through the blister, from the bottom to the top;
4. Remove the needle, but keep the cotton/thread in place so that it protrudes from the top and bottom of the blister;
5. Place a plaster over the blister, making sure that the thread is secured above the blister by the plaster

The reason for this approach is that when the blister is first pierced by the needle, the fluid will drain out of it, but the body's natural defences will produce more fluid. The piece of cotton will ensure that any fluid that builds up will continue to drain through the hole at the bottom of the blister and down the thread.

Will it hurt? Yes? All foot blisters will hurt.

But , will it hurt as much as an untreated blister? Absolutely not!