It’s A Staple Of Basic Medical Procedures

(When I am a kid, a good friend lives across the street with his grandparents. One day, my dad and I see him and his grandmother piling into the car, the grandmother visibly upset. Curious, we go over.)

Dad: “Everything all right?”

Friend’s Grandfather: “Yeah, [Friend] just hurt his hand using the stapler. It is still lodged in there, so [Grandmother] is taking him to the clinic.”

Dad: “Why? They are just going to take it out and then put a new staple in!”

Friend’s Grandfather: “That’s what I said! They are wasting three hours!”

(My friend returned later, with a — sterilized — surgical staple and relieved grandmother. By then, both my dad and his grandfather had thoroughly discussed which tool in their toolboxes they would have used to take care of the problem at home.)