Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Cleaning the wound
• Part 2 of 2: Bandaging the wound
• Tips
• Warnings

Bandaging a wound is an important part of providing first aid. You never know when you or a loved one will get a wound that requires first aid. Although you should call the emergency services immediately if you have a deep wound that is bleeding heavily, most smaller cuts and wounds can be treated and bandaged at home. Once the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been cleaned, bandaging is actually very easy.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Cleaning the wound

1. Know when the wound requires immediate medical attention. While most minor wounds can be bandaged with a band-aid, and slightly larger wounds with some gauze and plaster tape, some wounds are too serious to treat at home. For a wound where the bone is visible, for example, you must immediately seek medical attention, as with an injury where there is damage to the veins and where a lot of blood is flowing out. If a wound on the arms or legs is causing numbness below the injured area, it could indicate nerve damage and medical attention should also be sought.
   • If you lose a lot of blood, you will soon feel weak and tired (and maybe pass out), so let someone close to you know right away that the wound is serious or call 911.
   • If you have a deep wound in your abdomen, your organs may be damaged and you may have internal bleeding, so get to the hospital as soon as possible - just let someone else drive or call an ambulance as you may pass out touch.
2. Control the bleeding. Before cleaning and dressing the wound, you need to control the bleeding. Gently apply pressure to the wound with a clean, dry gauze pad (or other clean, absorbent cloth) to stop bleeding. In most cases, the pressure will cause the blood to clot and the bleeding will stop within 20 minutes, although it may continue to bleed gently for 45 minutes. The bandage or cloth also prevents bacteria from entering the wound that could cause infection.In severe cases, you can turn a tie or other long piece of cloth into a tourniquet, which you tie tightly just above the wound.
   • If the wound is still bleeding heavily after 15-20 minutes of pressure, you should seek medical attention. Continue to apply pressure and go to the doctor or emergency room.
   • If the bleeding is difficult to stop, the person may be taking blood thinners or have a condition that makes blood difficult to clot. In these cases, the person should be transferred to emergency medical services.
   • Before touching the wound, put on gloves if you have one. If you don't have gloves, wrap your hands in something like a plastic bag or a few layers of clean fabric. Only put your bare hands directly on the wound if there is absolutely no other option, because infectious diseases can be transmitted through the blood.
   • Also disinfect your hands with soap and water before touching the wound, if possible. This minimizes the chance of transferring bacteria from your hands to the wound.
3. Remove visible debris from the wound. If you see large pieces of dirt, glass, or other objects in the wound, remove them with clean tweezers. Rinse the tweezers with rubbing alcohol to avoid transferring bacteria and other microbes to the wound. Be careful not to further damage the wound by inserting the tweezers too deep.
   • If you're dealing with a gunshot wound, don't try to take the bullet out yourself - leave that to the medical staff.
   • If it is difficult to remove larger pieces of debris from the wound, consider leaving it to the medical staff as well. Trying to remove a large piece of debris from between the blood vessels can make the wound bleed even more.
   • There are experts who recommend that you wait to rinse the wound before removing the dirt. If you only see small pieces of dirt, this may be a better approach, as flushing may help remove those small pieces.
4. Remove clothing from the wound. Once the bleeding is under control, to gain access to the wound, remove clothing and jewelry from the area around the wound. You should do this so that the blood flow is not obstructed if the wound starts to swell. For example, if you have a bleeding hand wound, remove the watch from the wrist. If you cannot take off a garment, consider cutting the fabric with bandage scissors. For example, if the wound is on the thigh, you can take the pants off or cut the leg so that you can clean and bandage the wound better.
   • If you can't stop the bleeding, you can turn a strip of cloth or a belt into a tourniquet that can close the artery above the wound. However, a tourniquet should only be used in life-threatening situations and not for too long, as the tissue will die within hours if no blood enters it.
   • Once the clothing has been removed to clean and bandage the wound, you can also use it as a blanket to cover the injured person and keep it warm.
5. Rinse the wound thoroughly. Ideally, rinse the wound with a saline solution for at least a few minutes until there is no dirt left. A saline solution is best as it washes away the bacteria and is usually sterile packaged. If you don't have saline solution, use clean tap water or bottled mineral water, but make sure to run it over the wound for a few minutes. You can squeeze it from a drinking water bottle or hold it under a running tap. Do not use hot water; take lukewarm or cold water.
   • You can buy saline solution from the drugstore or pharmacy.
   • Some experts recommend using mild soap to clean the wound, but soap can also irritate the damaged tissue.
   • If you have a wound near your eye, be careful not to get soap in the eye.
6. Clean the wound with a washcloth or other soft cloth. Push very gently, and pat the wound with a clean cloth so that it is completely clean after rinsing with saline or plain tap water. Do not push and rub too hard, but make sure you have removed all the remaining dirt. Remember that rubbing gently may cause some bleeding again, so press back on the wound after cleaning if this happens.
   • Apply an antibacterial cream around the wound before dressing, if you have one. An antibacterial ointment or cream such as Nestosyl can help prevent infection. The ointment also prevents the dressing from sticking to the wound.
   • You can also apply a natural antiseptic such as iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or colloidal silver (that's the only thing that won't sting).
   • Assess the wound after cleaning. Sometimes a wound needs to be stitched in order to heal properly. If you see any of the following signs, get medical attention, rather than bandaging the wound itself: the wound looks deep, has frayed edges, and / or does not stop bleeding.

Part 2 of 2: Bandaging the wound

1. Find suitable dressing. Choose a sterile (still in the package) dressing of the correct size for the wound. If it is a small wound, a band-aid will suffice. However, if the wound is too big for a band-aid, you will need a larger gauze. You may need to fold or cut the gauze to fit exactly over the wound. Do not touch the bottom of the gauze (the side that will be against the wound) as you risk causing it to become infected. If you don't have an adhesive bandage and want to hold the gauze in place with tape, make sure that the gauze goes over the edges of the wound so that you do not stick the tape on the wound.
   • If you don't have a proper gauze or bandage, you can improvise with clean cloths or a piece of clothing.
   • By lightly lubricating the wound with an antibacterial ointment, you will not only prevent infections, but also ensure that the gauze does not stick to the wound. If you change a bandage or plaster that is stuck to the wound, it will start to bleed again.
   • A dovetail is useful for holding the edges of the wound together. If you don't have dovetails, put a regular band-aid across the wound (instead of lengthwise) and press the edges of the wound together.
2. Secure and cover the mesh. Use water-resistant plaster tape to adhere the mesh to the skin on all sides. Make sure the tape is on the healthy skin around the wound. Do not use duct tape or electrical tape as it can damage the skin when you remove it. If the gauze is stuck to the skin, cover it completely with a clean elastic bandage to protect the wound. Make sure you don't put the bandage on too tight, as this will impede blood flow.
   • Secure the bandage with a metal clip, safety pin or plaster tape.
   • Consider putting a layer of plastic between the gauze and the outer bandage if the area is likely to get wet. The extra layer of plastic also protects the wound against bacteria and other germs.
   • If the wound is on the face or head, you may need to wrap the bandage around the head like a headscarf and tie it tightly to keep it in place.
3. Change the bandage every day. Replacing the old dressing with a clean one every day will keep the wound clean and promote healing. If the dressing is clean and dry on the outside, you can use it again. If the wound was small enough for a band-aid, you should also change it daily. If the bandage or patch gets wet during the day, change it immediately, and do not wait until the next day. A wet dressing can make the wound more likely to become infected, so always keep the area clean and stays dry. If the bandage or plaster is stuck to a wound, soak the wound in warm water for a short while to make it easier to remove the bandage or plaster. To avoid this problem, you can use bandages that do not stick to the wound.
   • Signs of healing include less redness and swelling, less or no pain, and the formation of a crust.
   • A wound to the skin usually heals within a few weeks, but a deep wound can take up to a month to completely disappear.
4. Watch for signs of infection. Despite all efforts to keep your wound clean and dry, it can sometimes become infected. This is common if you've cut yourself on something dirty or rusty, or if you've been bitten by an animal or human. Signs that your wound is inflamed include swelling and pain, discharge, yellow or green pus, red and warm skin, high fever, and / or a feeling of general malaise. If you experience any of these signs within a few days of your injury, see your doctor right away. He / she will likely prescribe antibiotics or other treatment to fight the infection.
   • If you see red streaks on the skin from the wound, it could indicate an infection of the lymphatic system (the system that moves fluid away from tissues). This infection (lymphangitis) can be life-threatening, so immediate medical attention is necessary.
   • Consider getting a tetanus shot. Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that can develop if a wound becomes infected, especially if it originated from a dirty object. If you haven't had a tetanus booster in the past 10 years, see your doctor for a booster shot.

Tips

• A wound that requires stitching must be treated within six to eight hours of the injury to reduce the risk of infection. A wound that is very dirty may not be stitched to reduce the risk of infection.
• Keep in mind that the cosmetic result may be important, but it should not be the most important consideration in treating a wound. Healing without infection is.
• Puncture wounds are most likely to become infected - they are usually caused by a sharp object piercing the skin, such as a needle, nail, knife or tooth.

Warnings

• To avoid getting infected with anything, avoid contact with the blood of the person who was injured. Always use latex gloves if you have one.
• A tetanus shot must be repeated every 10 years. Tetanus is a serious infection that affects the nervous system. It causes painful muscle spasms in the jaw and neck, and can hinder breathing.
• If the bleeding cannot be stopped, get medical attention.