Cutting Clothes in an Emergency (Tips, tricks, and recommendations)

A brief video explaining how, when and why to cut a patient’s clothes in an emergency setting.
My favorite trauma shear
XShear (not sponsored): xshear.com/?ga...

[@ethantorres6113]

Love the new simplified intro!

[@christophertipton2318]

I'm an ex-paramedic and retired cop and worked in a suburban environment near a big city well known for violence and exporting that violence to the 'burbs. I carry the Leatherman Raptor now with my EDC and it does a very good job. Being retired, I'm not up to my elbows in blood on a daily basis anymore. I also have one in my home kit and one in the car kit. I also agree with keeping the patient dressed as much as possible, especially in winter. BTDT. My EDC is carried in a safari type vest which also conceals my firearm. I like the down coat advice too. BT Seen That. Never did it. 🙂

[@joshcarter-com]

“Never cut a down coat inside an ambulance.” 😅 Sounds the like voice of first-hand experience there.

[@jayraymond9707]

iykyk

[@ddh137]

I wouldn't do it in the ER either, unless you want to be the guy nurses talk about (in a bad way) for years to come.

[@petermackay8582]

If you have to cut a down jacket, try to go up a seam.

[@oliveradams1270]

I saw this on Chicago fire. So Yeah, that wasn't pretty

[@skeletonwguitar4383]

Im one of those folks that dont know and not in a loop on what that means, unless someone just explains. If not, I guess im out of luck

[@DigitalAndInnovation]

The X shears are not inexpensive... but compared to raptors they kind of are. His recommendation is not misplaced. I friggin love them

[@gymnet]

I was taught to cut the side of a pant leg rather than the top. That way you can fold the fabric back over the leg to help protect your patient.

[@rumakingthatup]

For men, I'm more comfortable cutting up the side. I don't even want to know if there have been injuries like accidentally cutting a penis. I'm just going to presume there have been.

[@RpasaustraliaAu]

Tip I was taught in remote casualty care was cut pant inner legs, pull outwards and tie together over abdomen can work as s make shift pelvis fracture brace.

[@MikeWood]

It is a basic topic not often covered for sure. I go for the cheaper shears for my kits - knowing they are likely a one and done. I am not an EMT, so cutting off boots is not likely something I will encounter, but these demos are good to share. Bunching fabric and cutting. I like that.

[@ddh137]

OK, this may sound weird, but I LOVE cutting clothes lol. 100% love my xshears for this job.

[@DylanLey]

I feel like everyone should have the chest-exposing cut technique shown at 02:42 down. Exposing the chest isn't just for trauma situations. In fact, it's the most common type of cut you'll have to do in EMS, since this is what you'll be doing for critical medical patients (ie. CPR, cardioversion, prepping a critical pt who you think could code).

[@seanconlin8712]

Here is a tip if you have to remove an equestrian rider's boots do not cut the leather. Yes I understand that quick access, but these boots are extremely expensive. The boot has a zipper on the rear of the boot cut down the zipper makes easier cutting and the rider can have the boot repaired.

[@hihomord]

Nice tip on the "bunch" cut.

[@BlazinAzianFD]

From an er nurse cutting clothes off people in codes and casting material.... xshears over raptor all day everyday. Raptors don't make it a couple of months. Xshears going strong 2 years later. Which is crazy because Leatherman is usually great.

[@InformalGreeting]

My Raptors are about five years old and other than sharpening the blades a few times have never hinted at a problem. I seem to have a unicorn pair though because NOBODY else has had a similar experience that I have heard.

[@roberthart4160]

I'm not an ER nurse, but on an ambo. I chose X shears, because I didn't need all of the extras on the Raptors, plus I think they're overrated and folks get them because of the name. So glad I saved 30 bucks. My X shears paid for themselves the 1st day I had them. Still great after a year and multiple uses.

[@johne1653]

Holding tension on the light weight cloth material helps a bit especially with sharper scissors! A guy coded out in his workshop. He had wood fired stove going with an open grate door.....Partner cut the down jacket....and POOF......it stunk and made a mess burnt feathers...UFDA. That retention lanyard on the better quality scissors is a good idea.

[@preparedcitizens]

I have been told in training starting at bottom of pants or neck of shirt, always cut towards belly button. Great video brother!

[@ReeseMacalma]

Ohhhhh new studio setup? The light looks nice.

[@ArztvomDienst]

Somebody asked on Quora a while ago "Is there anything you should never cut through in an ambulance?" - and somebody just answered "Yes. Down jackets" with a picture of the inside of an ambulance in which somebody did that. What a mess.

[@philipstaite4775]

After the video and several comments I had to do a search. Google pointed me to a 7 year old reddit post on r/funny - only looked funny if you didn't have to clean it up!

[@roland.j.ruttledge]

Very informative as ever. I have 2 pairs of Xshears, one on my carry the other on my belt, many thanks UK.

[@treecrabwill]

I always thought needing to replace cheap shears was bs until the other day I practiced with those on a pair of jeans. Gotta get rid of those

[@witchdoc5075]

+1 on the seatbelt cutter. 64 sutures later after an officer used it to remove clothes. Impressive lac.

[@skeletonwguitar4383]

God that seatbelts cutter story was just... horrifying and cringeworthy, made me tingle. First time Ive heard it too! Lol

[@arranbtag]

Sam showing us all how Paramedics start foreplay 🤣

[@daemonspring]

2:54 One reason I'm considering a seatbelt cutter over shears is for a very compact trauma kit. Shears are just too big so it's a choice between making the kit less portable and thus not available all the time, or having the seatbelt cutter so at least I have some ability to cut. I also have a knife and small scissors available on a multitool but neither can really stand in for shears. I'd definitely choose shears the moment the space for the kit is big enough though.

[@nipe2121]

As an ex-pro, S-cut is good choise. Size and price were con, but it cuts easy and safely even thicker clothes.

[@TheMissing8]

I worked EMS for a level 1 trauma system in a violent North East city and I never had trouble cutting clothes with my $10 Amazon shears. Plus when you lose them on a job, and you will, you don't feel bad.

[@ColorHawk_]

Madison supply shears are by far the best value to performance shears on the market. I bought a 5 pack of them back in 2019 for 50$, im down to my last pair. I can usually get around 10-15 or so full trauma strips out of them along with the everyday cutting i use them for before they will stop cutting. They feel sharper than raptor but not nearly as sharp as the Xshears

[@ngut5915]

If you have a seatbelt cutter and no shears available, lift up the shirt/coat, pass it underneath, turn it up and cut from there, keeping the hook facing away from the patient. For pants you should flip the tool in your hand so the hook is nearest your wrist, then slide your fist up the pantlegs if at all possible. This only works with wide enough pants though. In any case, there's no doubt the shears are better suited for the job if you have access to them.

[@DeJo1078]

I carry both great and ok shears. My ok shears are my daily use and my Leatherman Raptors are for the more difficult fabric.

[@niallsheridan3704]

I was taught to cut along seams of expensive clothing. I'm a raptor fan.

[@Codylun92]

I have a hunting knife that has a tip set similar to a seatbelt cutter. It’s called a gut hook. I’ll let you guess why.

[@itsmedicus]

what i leared to do cut the patient clothes a hand length on both ends of the wound do know I am still in training also thank you so much for all help you did with my study on my journey to become a medic

[@leslieunderwood3520]

Requesting Your opinion/view: Obviously; priority is patient care. However; how do you from your personal experiences (EMS/LEO) view the possibility of evidence preservation (GSW entry points/knife punctures into clothing) at the scene? Especially; when a LEO is barking at you to not destroy evidence. Every situation is different but; I just thought it may be a great supplementally related discussion.

[@ddh137]

Take photos if your agency allows, try not to cut through stab/gunshot holes, avoid cutting through blood stained areas if possible, document everything as accurately as you can, but never document something you don't know to be a fact, it could be the thing that sets a criminal free or convicts the wrong person.

[@Kindhamster]

I feel like the notes you get from the trauma surgeon/nurse about the wounds they had to treat in the ER would make much stronger evidence than some holes in some fabric.

[@leslieunderwood3520]

Thanks for sharing your opinion Sam to clarify for the average Joe First Responders. Oh! Sorry… the posted responses aren’t yours? lol 😅. Thanks to those who decided to respond in your stead. Yes, there is many ways to collect evidence but; that is not the role of the medical responders. Differing jurisdictions have differing policies on this. True incident. A number of years back a couple of buddies of mine responded to a grisly murder scene. The local police investigators took their boots after the call for footwear comparisons. A weird request by police but, they complied. As they bragged…they got new boots out of it. Thanks again everyone who helped thinking I was a bozo.

[@CIPEIYT]

TIP: Although you won't likely need to worry about this very much in Youth, Uniformed Members (Police, Firefighters, Military, SAR, etc.) and "generally" persons under 65 ... in Seniors, give a "pat down" at the shin and thigh before cutting pants to hedge against cutting a "Leg Bag" full of urine drained from a catheter...or the drain tube itself. TIP 2: If Right Handed, (or if 2 attendees, one Right Handed should) cut shirts from the patient's left side, going from top-down. Far more control, far faster, when possible. Attendee on (supine) patient's right side works on the pants.

[@Alfeco-dm7uk]

To avoid hypothermia, why don't you carry a few hand warmers. Those things are lightweight and would help you to keep warm vital areas like the thighs or the chest/back.

[@oliveradams1270]

Thanks for making this video it was really helpful

[@jamesa7506]

I learned a bottle of tequila makes the clothes magically disappear, no cutting needed! 👍

[@cseivard]

Thanks! Lots to learn from!

[@conorflanagan5789]

I can't agree more with buy once cry once I'm a basic level and not practicing but I witnessed a dumptruck wreck a couple months ago and decided to intervene during my assessment I found the 300lb patients right arm had exploded when the truck fell over and I had to access his arm but not one but two of my generic shears were unable to cut his carheart I have since invested in Xshears

[@xosder5Hr5]

Paramedics couldn't cut my motorcycle boot! They had to pull it off. I had a compound talus fracture!

[@simplefieldcraft]

There was a product that came out 10 years ago called rip shears. It was like a seat belt cutter you attached to the handle of a pair of issue tuff cuts. I used it once on a pair of Kevlar lined bike jeans it just got clogged up with the fibres and you just ended up tugging on the material and not cutting. Waste of money. I’m a raptor user but I’m looking at the X shears don’t know if we can get them in Australia.

[@preacher1776]

You mentioned plate carriers and not cutting them off. Would you recommend the First Spear tubes for all of the cummberbund/shoulder straps so you can get wounded undressed quickly? I use them on my cummerbund but not shoulder straps.

[@michaelloving8004]

TSA allows trauma shears 4" or less it says so on their website

[@Piripi1972]

Cut shirt down oneside to allow recovering/protection in extreme environment?

[@timd6717]

I work at an airport in the "sterilized" area so TSA says no shears allowed in my IFAK. TSA says a seatbelt cutter (some, not all) would be allowed. In this case, should I have a belt cutter and be very careful if I need to cut clothing? Or best to just not cut clothing and work around it, if needed.

[@Victory4thePpl]

thanks

[@tbne712]

What are your opinions on cutting thick clothing before applying a TQ? I usually just bunch a bit up, cut the top, to create a hole and go circular around the limb from there. Pulling the now seperate pant leg down to expose just the space where the TQ should go.

[@paraAA82]

THANK YOU!

[@strelkstalkervich9819]

Good work, thank's!

[@jacobkrout1627]

It might be a more silly question, but why not just take the clothes off rather than cutting them. I would understand needing to cut if there is a puncture with the object still lodged inside. i would also understand the boots thing you mentioned. but why cut pants, if you would just take them off.

[@classicambo9781]

Spinal precautions, dislocated joints, open fractures etc all make the movement of removing pants or boots difficult.

[@TheQwik512]

Ouch, cutting a 300.00 + pair of Alpinestar boots but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[@PrepMedic]

$20 on marketplace 😂

[@meidamx]

Get some.

[@erycdamaso_613]

Pants, I was taught come up at a 45° angle to the belt. Expose the leg. Shirts and jackets, never cut down.

[@DawidKellerman]

I live in Namibia and something to look out for is some of the tribe children here and neighboring countries could have a string around their weights. It is a traditional medicine meant to ward off evil. Leave it alone! the sisters at hospital will deal with it. If you cut it and the child dies there will be lots of unhappy family

[@landontalbot8244]

I would not recommend cutting off bikers leather vests

[@rshaughn11]

Definitely not their patch if you have to

[@Snarky357]

Cut along the seams, at least they can repair them later, is what we always did

[@samsteward8152]

definitely don't cut them if you don't have to, but you can't wear your leathers if you're dead.

[@Mo9936]

Check out the S-cut ☝🏻

[@TB15003]

I have a question what if the patient is a furry in a fur suit what shears do you recommend for that

[@juu4524]

Call the vet

[@maybeblakemclemore]

what if instead of prep medic, he was 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 medic, and instead of treating you he just cut your clothes off and "treated" you

[@sco2735]

Why cut boots? Why not just stabilize and transport.

[@PrepMedic]

Possibly badly fitted boots, potential for an open fracture or massive hemorrhage in the boot 🤷‍♂️

[@PrepMedic]

And someone is going to need to get them off. We do it a lot better in EMS than the ER. In the presence of isolated injury I will always remove the boot.

[@TulkOrkan]

First?