Question:
Say you got a really nasty flesh wound while in the backcountry. Would it be of any value to dissolve iodine water purification tablets in a small amount of water and apply this to the wound? Would this be the same as liquid iodine like you buy in a drugstore? Is iodine recommended for open wounds or just surface abrasions?

Answer: Iodine should be fine on an open wound. It's the same as the iodine in the drugstores but doesn't have the methwhatever in it that's poison if you drink it. Iodine is pretty basic. Everclear won't hurt less than iodine. Really. Unless you're thinking of internal as well as external application. Then again, I once drank some Everclear. YeeHaa. Not fun.

Of course tincture of iodine would be better, but I don't carry this while backpacking.

I do however carry iodine water purification tablets, and thought that wound treatment might be a dual use for them, a use I've never heard suggested before.

I also carry Everclear grain alcohol. After this is gone it's comforting to know that iodine tablets can pick up the slack.