Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Bandaging an open wound
• Part 2 of 3: Changing the dressing
• Part 3 of 3: Treating open wounds
• Necessities
• Tips
• Warning

Bandaging a wound involves applying a bandage material, usually sterile gauze, over a deep wound to protect the wound and prevent the wound from leaking. This allows the wound to heal faster from within. If you don't bandage a wound properly, it can heal on the outside and look fine again, but not healed properly on the inside. That's why it's important to learn how to properly bandage an open wound and take care of it.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Bandaging an open wound

1. Gather the necessary materials. If you are caring for an open wound while it is healing, you should have a large supply of the following materials available. If you change the mesh twice a day, you will need a large supply of it. You will also need saline. So prepare this well so that you don't have to go to the store all the time. You will need the following products:
   • Sterile detergent. You can get saline solution from the pharmacy or you can make it yourself by boiling 0.9 liters of water, dissolving 1 teaspoon of salt in it and then boiling it for 5 minutes.
   • To take care of the wound, you will need sterile gloves, clean towels, a clean bowl, and scissors or tweezers. Sterilize your scissors or tweezers in boiling water before use.
   • To bandage the wound, you will need gauze, an outer layer dressing, medical tape and cotton swabs.
2. First clean the place where you are going to put your things. A wound must be cared for in a clean and sterile environment. If you do this at home, do not use a dusty kitchen table or side table as they are full of bacteria that can cause infections. But you still have to work somewhere, so before you start, just clean the surface where you are going to put your things well with disinfectant detergent.
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before starting. Wash up to your elbows and keep your fingernails short and clean.
3. Prepare to connect. After you have thoroughly cleaned it, place a clean towel over your workplace. Pour enough salt water or saline solution into a clean bowl. You don't need very much. You just need to moisten the connection material a little with it. Take the bandage and tape and place them on the towel as well. Don't put it too close to the bowl and don't get it wet.
   • Cut a piece of your gauze and lightly wet it with your saline solution. Make sure it doesn't get too wet. It doesn't have to be soaked. If the saline solution drips off, it is too wet.
   • Many nurses find it useful to cut the tape to the correct size beforehand and then stick it to the edge of the table. Then you don't have to fiddle with the tape while you are busy bandaging the wound. Organize your workplace the way you like it.
4. Now wash your hands again. You can never wash your hands often enough. Especially if you are dealing with a wound that is deep and very open. Infection can kill. So keep your hands clean with soap and water and wear latex gloves for extra protection.
5. Gently insert the gauze into the wound. Squeeze the connecting material so that there is not too much saline in the gauze. The gauze should be moist but should not drip out. Use enough gauze to fill the entire wound, but don't bandage it too tightly. Gently push the material into the wound. If necessary, use a cotton swab to get it right.
   • While the bandage should fill the wound, don't push it in tight. If any gauze remains that does not fit in the wound, place it on top of the wound and then wrap the bandage around it so that everything is secure and secure.
   • Be careful and quick. There is no special technique for inserting the gauze into the wound. Just push it in as gently as you can. How easily it goes in depends on the size and shape of the wound. Keep a close eye on the patient and talk to him or her so that you are doing everything as comfortably as possible and you are not strapping it too tightly.
6. Bandage the outside of the wound. For the outer joint, use gauze compresses to cover the gauze-filled wound. Cover the entire wound tightly but comfortably. The gauze compress will protect the bandaged wound from the outside. Place sterile gauze pads over the wound and use enough to cover the entire wound, plus an extra edge of sheet around the wound.
   • Use tape to hold the outer joint material in place. Stick the tape, which you prepared earlier, at least 5 centimeters further than where the bandage ends. Only touch the mesh at the edges and do not touch it too much to avoid infection.

Part 2 of 3: Changing the dressing

1. Remove the outer bandage. Start by removing the tape and carefully remove the gauze pads from the wound. Use one hand, clean and with gloves on, to hold the skin around the wound in place and use the other to remove the dressing.
   • Be very careful not to let dried blood or other liquid from the wound adhere to the dressing. Otherwise, use a cotton swab moistened with saline solution to loosen the bandage. Proceed very slowly and carefully.
   • Immediately put all old bandages, tape, and gauze pads in a trash bag and dispose of them immediately. Keep it away from children and pets.
2. Remove the gauze from the wound. Using the sterilized forceps or your fingers, gently try to remove the gauze from the wound. Be very slow and pay close attention. Be focused and make sure there are no crusts formed between the gauze and the wound. Use another cotton swab to loosen the bandage if necessary. Remove all connection material from the wound and check again when you are done if there is really no gauze left in the wound.
3. Apply pressure if it starts to bleed. If it is a deep, large wound, it may bleed while you change the dressing. This is certainly more common the first time you change the dressing. Should this happen, use a gauze compress to apply pressure to the wound. Press firmly and evenly over the surface of the wound for at least 5 minutes to allow a scab to form and the bleeding to stop. Then continue to connect.
   • If you cannot control the bleeding, or if the wound is still bleeding a day or two after the doctor looks at it, you should go straight to the hospital or doctor and have the wound checked by a doctor.
4. Check if the wound is infected. After taking the dressing off, check the wound closely and make sure it is not infected. If the wound is discolored, if there is a lot of fluid coming out, or if the wound smells bad, this may indicate that the wound is infected. If you notice this, you should go to the hospital or your doctor immediately and be treated immediately. An antibiotic may be prescribed or the doctor may be able to bandage the wound in a different way.
   • For more information on how to care for open wounds, read the following section.
5. Wash the area gently with soap and water. Wash the area around the wound very gently with soap and water. Use a clean sponge, warm water, and antibacterial soap to clean the skin around the wound. Do not over wet the wound or use soap directly on deep wounds. Wash around the wound.
6. Replace the dressing as described here. After you have removed the dressing and cleaned the skin around the wound, apply a new dressing as described at the beginning, unless a doctor tells you otherwise. Always follow your doctor's instructions and change the dressing according to the wound care schedule. Some wounds need to be re-bandaged a few times a day, while other wounds have different care methods.

Part 3 of 3: Treating open wounds

1. Change the bandage once or twice a day. Always follow your doctor's instructions about dressing an open wound. After the wound starts to heal, most doctors will allow the dressing to be changed once a day and eventually the wound will not need to be bandaged at all so that it can heal completely. When enough tissue has grown again, all you need is the outer dressing for the wound healing process.
   • Most wounds do not need to be bandaged for more than 10 days. Always keep a close eye on the wound and use common sense. If the wound doesn't seem to heal properly or if it is taking too long, call your doctor.
2. Recognize the signs of infection. While changing the dressing, always look for any of the following signs of infection. Call your doctor right away if the patient experiences any of the following symptoms:
   • Body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius
   • Chills
   • If the tissue in the wound turns pink, white, yellow, or black in color
   • Foul-smelling liquid or pus coming from the wound
   • If the skin around the wound or the wound itself is swollen or turned red
   • If the wound becomes more sensitive or hurts more
3. Never make the wound too wet. Never over wet the wound while you are bandaging it. It is very important that an open wound never gets too wet. This can cause infection and prevent the wound from healing properly. Let the body do its job and don't over wet the wound.
   • You can shower after the first 24 hours as long as you don't let the wound get wet. You can wrap the wound in plastic or, if the wound is on your arm, keep your arm out of the shower water. Your doctor may have specific instructions on how to clean the wound.
4. Always discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. Taking care of an open wound is serious business. If you are unsure or have any questions or concerns about the healing process, call your doctor right away. Don't wait or let any infection get worse. If a wound is not properly cared for, the patient can get septicemia or gangrene.

Necessities

• Connecting material
• Wet disinfectant
• Scissors
• A clean bowl
• A clean towel
• Outer connection materials
• Cotton swabs
• A waste bag to throw away used items

Tips

These tips are for the care of wounds in general

• Avoid putting pressure on the wound.
• Make sure the dressing is dry.
• Do not lie on the injured body part.

Warning

• This article is not a substitute for medical advice. Listen to and follow your doctor's instructions for dressing wounds.