Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Proper care plays an important role in good wound recovery. A small wound that is properly cleaned and handled usually heals without complications. However, if not cleaned, the wound may become infected and require professional care. Learn how to clean the wound and determine the right time to seek medical help. Fortunately, this is not difficult at all.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Cleansing Wounds

1. 

   Check the wound. The first step in treating any wound is to examine it thoroughly. You need to determine the nature and severity of the wound. Please observe carefully and pay attention to the following points:
   • The amount of blood. How fast is the blood flowing? Is the blood flowing in a steady stream or spraying through a pulse?
   • Foreign objects in the wound. It could be the cause of the injury, such as a hook or broken mirror.
   • Dirt or debris in and around the wound.
   • Signs of a fracture, such as a protrusion, swelling in a bone, or loss of mobility. Pay attention to these if the person is injured by a fall.
   • Signs of clear bleeding such as swelling, large bruising on the skin or abdominal pain.
   • In case of animal attack, look for bite marks or multiple lesions. If you live in an area with insects or poisonous snakes, recognizing these traces can be helpful.

2. 

   
   
   Get medical attention essentials. Usually, you can treat minor wounds yourself at home. However, in serious cases, the injured person should see a doctor immediately. Seek medical attention if:
   • The wound bleeds a lot, blood is sprayed through a pulse and / or does not stop.
   • The wound is more than a centimeter deep. Chances are, this wound needs stitches.
   • Have any major head injuries.
   • There are signs of a fracture or internal bleeding.
   • The wound is dirty and the injured person has not been vaccinated against tetanus in the near future. This is especially important for wounds caused by rusting metal objects.
   • People with blood thinning. This is especially important in the case of a head injury.

3. 

   
   
   Stop bleeding. Use a cloth or gauze to gently apply pressure to the wound and cover the affected area with excess cloth. If possible, raise the injured part above the heart.
   • Raising the injured area reduces the amount of blood transferred and, in turn, reduces bleeding.
   • If the bleeding does not stop within 10 to 15 minutes, seek immediate medical assistance.

4. 

   Remove small foreign objects. If possible, carefully remove any small object (such as a pebble, debris, or hook) from the wound.
   • If so, use sterile tweezers for small objects.
   • Do not move large objects in the wound. You can make the wound larger and worsen the bleeding.
   • If there is a large amount of debris in the wound, especially for a major injury (such as a "fall in the vehicle" injury), seek medical assistance. Removing debris can be very painful and requires local anesthesia.

5. 

   
   
   Sponge. Once the bleeding has stopped, the next step is to rinse the affected area under warm running water. This can be considered as the most important step in speeding up the recovery speed. There are a few good ways to do this:
   • Use a vacuum bottle (available at most pharmacies) filled with warm tap water or normal saline (you can substitute a bottle of contact lens saline solution if folded). Spray the wound with the solution. Repeat until about two liters. For the scalp and face, you don't need to wash it so thoroughly. These areas have many blood vessels and can naturally clean the wound through bleeding.
   • 60cc syringe with IV catheter tip for best flow volume and pressure. It also has good navigation, so you can get under the skin flap and other difficult locations. If a doctor is consulted, the device is more likely to be used.
   • You can also rinse it under warm tap water. Wash the wound with at least two liters of water, the equivalent of a large bottle of soda. Continue until the entire wound is free of impurities and the bottom of any skin flap has been cleaned.
   • In general, it is advisable to wash the burn with cold water to lower the temperature. In the case of a chemical burn, this helps dilute the chemical and reduce tissue damage.

6. 

   Bandage. After cleaning, cover the wound with a clean medical bandage. The bandage helps to immobilize the wound, thereby keeping the edges of the wound close together and helping the wound heal. It also prevents wounds from spreading and infection.
   • Use a dressing that is a little bit larger than the wound.
   • Every commercial bandage is available for most cases. The most common is a bandage, which can be rolled or swab in 2 × 2 or 4 × 4 sizes depending on the size of the wound.
   • Non-stick gauze or Telfa gauze should be used with burns, abrasions or open wounds with an abnormal mouth because the blood is dry and the young skin may stick to the gauze.
   • Iodized gauze is best for wounds that need to be exposed, such as an abscess or stab.
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Part 2 of 2: Wound Control

1. 

   Re-examine the wound every day. After 48 hours, re-examine the wound daily. Carefully remove the bandage and check for signs of infection or any other complications.Contact your doctor as soon as you notice signs of infection.
   • If the bandage gets stuck in the wound and won't remove it easily, soak it in warm water.
   • Once the bandage is open, check for signs of infection. These include redness in the skin around the mouth of the wound or an increasingly reddened area. Watch for purulent discharge or a yellow-green-yellow area.
   • Gently feel the warmth and swelling in the injured area with your finger. They can be a bad signal, especially if the wound is red.
   • Check the injured person's temperature to determine the fever. A degree of 40 degrees or more is alarming and you need immediate medical attention.
   • If the infection is under the skin, the wound may be reopened by the doctor. Some infected wounds require antibiotics or even surgical anesthesia. This is very common with a wound that is not cleaned properly.

2. 

   Sponge. If the wound is clean, rinse it again to maintain this condition. Just let the water run through the wound for a minute. Clean blood clots with soap and water.
   • Use soap and water to clean the surrounding skin and the area of ​​the wound that is not wide open. Sing your happy birthday song twice while washing the soap and you're done!

3. 

   Apply an antibiotic. Once the wound has been washed, apply a thin layer of neosporin or antibiotic ointment to the wound immediately with a cotton swab. As a result, the risk of infection is reduced.
   • Apply an antibiotic are not It is a substitute for thoroughly washing and cleaning wounds. Be careful when applying. In case of getting wet, let the wound dry before applying any ointment.

4. 

   Bandage. Put a clean medical bandage on the wound. Between checks, keep the dressing clean and dry.
   • Repeat the test every day until the wound has healed.
   • Continue lifting the wound if possible, at least during the first few days. It will minimize pain and swelling.
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Advice

• If stitches or other medical services are required, take care of the wound as directed by your doctor.

Warning

• If an infection occurs, seek professional medical attention promptly.
• Be aware of HIV and some other diseases that can be transmitted through the bloodstream. When washing someone else's wound, wearing rubber gloves and avoiding blood contact is always a good idea.