Customer Reviews

Sawyer Extractor Pump Kit

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The device is great for draining pimples & other small abscesses but I don't recommend for poisonous bites. I spend a lot of time in the wilderness and am a critical care MD. Received one like this as a gift in 2000 and no longer carry it based on poor results from studies. Wilderness Medicine Educators no longer recommend this type of product. Below is a summary-from Wall Street Journal Medical Department-May 13, 2009:

"The suction devices are still under debate. One of the most popular devices, the Sawyer Extractor, sold by Sawyer Products Inc. of Safety Harbor, Fla., consists of a syringe-shaped chamber with a plunger that creates a vacuum. The company suggests leaving it on 10 to 15 minutes to extract the venom.

However, a study in pigs and one using radioactively labeled simulated venom injected into the thighs of eight human volunteers found the Sawyer Extractor ineffective. "It removes just a minute quantity of venom," says pig-study author Sean P. Bush, a professor of emergency medicine at California's Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Some doctors fear the deep suction could even worsen outcomes by killing skin at the wound site. The human study, published in 2004 by researchers at the University of California in Fresno, found that the device removed no more than 1% to 2% of mock venom from the leg.

Sawyer Products owner Kurt Avery says he believes the studies show only that the product doesn't work well in large muscle areas, such as thighs and calves. Based on the results, the company changed its label about two years ago to warn that the pump is "not as effective" at removing venom from large muscle areas. Mr. Avery maintains the product is effective when the bite is under the skin in hands, feet and other nonmuscled areas.

That argument doesn't sound plausible to Stanford University's Paul S. Auerbach. Dr. Auerbach, who had advocated use of the Sawyer pump in his 2003 book "Medicine for the Outdoors" and is listed on Sawyer's Web site as supporting the product, says the new edition of his book, expected out next month from Elsevier Inc., will recommend against its use based on newer research."

I've used this on stings, spider bites and even mosquito bites. IT ROCKS! My son was stung 4 times by wasps that nested in his playhouse. I put it on each sting for two minutes immediately. Within 10 minutes the welts were gone and within an hour and a half the swelling was gone. None of the stings became feverish and by morning they were hard to find. No knots, not welts, no swelling, no fever at the sting sites. If you don't have one of these you might not be a "bad parent" per se but if you have one you just might be a better parent! ;o)

I've never had the opportunity to use it on a snake bite and hope I never do but I have to believe that it would remove some of the venom and every little bit counts when you're stung or bit.

Use it for mosquito's instead of itching for a week!

This pump is phenomenal. The old snake bite kits with the razor are outdated. It surprises me that they even make them today. And it surprises me even more that stores actually carry them, especially when this product exists. There's simply no comparison. I bought one of these a couple years ago and kept it in my hiking gear.

Last summer I was bit by a Hobo spider and this pump saved me a trip to the ER. I was amazed at how powerful the pump is. I could clearly see the venom as it was being sucked out. Afterwards, the skin discoloration and stinging from the bite were gone and the only evidence that it ever happened was the two fang marks in my skin. Someone else in a similar situation might want to make a trip to the clinic, just to be safe. Sometimes, though, you're far in the backwoods and can't get to help readily. At times like that, this pump could potentially save a life.

Thankfully, I haven't had to use this for a snake bite, but I have no doubt it would work. I now keep two of these close by--one in my house and the other in my car. I use them for mosquito bites, too, and they effectively eliminate the itching. I recommend this pump to EVERYONE and wouldn't be without it.

I am outside a lot and play a lot of golf and would not go on the porch or the course without my 'Extractor'. From deer fly season, no-see-ums, and the eternal mosquito it has kept me out of the emergency room this summer. I am very allergic to all three, Only wish I had known about it before now. It is so simple to use and for the places that are hard to reach a friend can do it for you. I probably could have sold a couple dozen of them from my golf cart. (Not a bad idea!)

I ordered this kit to carry in my backpack while hiking in the backcountry where rattlesnakes are a very real threat. As it happened, I was stung by a bee and decided to try it on my hand. After I flicked off the stinger, I used the smallest tip and suctioned at the point of the sting. It appeared to draw out a little venom? and within a few minutes I had no pain or swelling at all from the sting. Very small and easy to carry. Definetely a good investment, and worth the peace of mind if you are too far away to get any medical attention in case of a bite or sting.

I got this as an addition to my first aid kit not thinking I'd be using it too often but more for "just in case". Well I have got to say it is the best tool yet for extracting skin boils. Once you get it in the early stages before the infection goes deep you save yourself weeks of pain and discomfort and avoid any antibiotics. It works like magic and healing there after is quick and painless.

Excellent. I think it is exactly what I thought it would be. I think it could be useful if I ever need it.

In snake country (everywhere but Ireland, I believe) this should be in your pocket. I don't even dayhike without it. It is simple to use, lightweight, and the only kit approved by doctors (or so I am led to believe).

*I realize Amazon hasn't touted this as a beauty item, but many other places do and I wanted to write this review for those who found this item in the manner I did.*

I attempted to use this as some other posters mentioned - for acne in addition to insect bites. On several beauty sites, this was touted as a great way to get rid of blackheads, etc. Not even close. Deep cysts, it helps bring to the surface a bit, but definitely not for smaller blemishes.

I'm writing this review for those of you who happen upon this item in the same manner I found it. This is NOT a beauty tool and will not help with clogged pores.

Hope that helps those of you who were looking at this item as I originally was! Best wishes to you folks who wanna go camping with it.

We decided to order a snake bite kit after encountering a 6 foot diamondback while hiking just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the NC mountains. No one was bitten, but when you are walking on a trail and look about 2 feet to the side of where you are walking and see a snake this size, it is a bit worrisome.

The pump and attachments in this kit appear quite functional and it provides a lot of suction. However, this includes only the pump and attachments, it doesn't include the swabs, band-aids and razor which are shown it the pictures. It mentions that only the pump is included in the text part, but this is pretty expensive considering it is not a full kit and most of the other available kits include other needed items.

In any event, it makes us feel a bit safer during hiking now.