Does alcohol, or liquor, when poured on a flesh wound, help to kill bacteria as well as numb the pain?

Question

In the movies, the characters, when shot by bullets, often pour their Jack Daniels or something on the wound, and I was like, why not just wait and then pour some hydrogen peroxide on the wound later? Then my friend said that the alcohol helps to numb the pain when poured on the wound. I thought, no way, it would just intensify it and they should just keep pressure on the wound til they get home and then pour some sort of peroxide on it later! What do you think?

Answer 1

The distilled alcoholic beverages which are sold, such as Jack Daniels Old Number 7 are about 40% alcohol which is not a great way to cleanse a wound, but in the absence of another treatment, would be better than the water from a creek or pond.  However, in the old westerns, most of the alcoholic drinks sold were actually a home distilled drink made by the saloon keepers, much like moonshine, and would be more like 80-90% alcohol.

In our modern society it would be best to use a product produced for cleansing wounds.  But in the field situation, the cleanest solution, especially one containing alcohol, would be better than a field source of water.

These would not relieve pain topically, but might cause some localized tissue damage which would then cause a decrease in sensation.

Just as we know that maggots will clean the dead tissue out of a rotting wound, and leeches will keep blood from accumulating in an extremity, these may not be the ideal method, but are a reasonable method given the situation.

Answer 2

Yes it does.  Did they have peroxide then?  LOL  Gangrene might set in by the time they had found some.

Answer 3

      Alcohol will kill the tissue also along with sterilizing it so, not a good idea. If your our in the boonies and there's no help available and none will be coming forth with then, I would say O.K. to any kind of sterilization.

       The men in the Korean prisoner of war camps found that maggots cleaned the wounds that became infected, they stopped short of non infected flesh.

        The same method was used in Vietnam.

Answer 4

Alcohol (Whiskey) is better than peroxide, besides where can you find peroxide like in the old westerns. Probably didn't exist. Whiskey will burn, but it will cleanse the wound and kill any germs in there. Nobody carries peroxide around, but whiskey, yes. And it might be a long way from home when it happens. Let me tell you this also. Do you know what's good for a cut or bullet hole? Table sugar. It will stop the bleeding and heal the wound. I hope you don't think I am being smart with you, because I am not. If you think I am, then please except my apology. That was a good question, which a lot of people would think so to. If you could get your hands on an Army Medic's Book with notes and cures when out on the battle field, you would be shocked at what they have to substitute things for that isn't by the manuel. They don't work on a wounded soldier in a spotless and sanitized room like a hospital operating room, these men are treated where they lay, wether it be in mud, heavy dirt, sand, and bugs all around. And thank God for the medics, they have saved many of lives doing what is not according to the rules. I used to be an Emergency Medical Technician and was studying to be a paramedic, but had to drop out because of an injury, but what I learned about the human body and how it functions is a miracle. Any how young lady, whiskey is good for gunshots and it doesn't numb anything, unless you drink it and pass out, I guess that would be like a sedative. You sure wouldn't feel anything. Best to you lady and may you have a wonderful and long life. Good luck.