How to treat a puncture wound

Video: First Aid Tips : How to Treat a Puncture Wound

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 4: How to Assess the Condition of a Wound
Part 2 of 4: How to Treat a Deep Puncture Wound
Part 3 of 4: How to Treat a Small Puncture Wound
Part 4 of 4: How to recover from a puncture wound
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Did you know that stab wounds account for 5% of the cases with which children are admitted to emergency departments? Puncture wounds occur when a thin, pointed object is pierced through the skin, such as a nail, button, sliver, or other similar object. These wounds are usually characterized by a small area of damage, but can be quite deep if the object is pushed under the skin with a fair amount of force. Shallow puncture wounds are fairly easy to treat at home and do not require emergency care. If a puncture wound is life threatening, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Read on to find out how to determine the severity of a puncture wound and how to deal with minor or severe injuries.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: How to Assess the Condition of a Wound

1 Treat the wound as quickly as possible. If the puncture wound is treated right away, complications can usually be avoided. If the wound is not treated, then the infection that has penetrated the puncture site can pose a serious danger to the victim's life.
2 Calm down the victim. This is especially important in the case of children and people who do not tolerate pain well. Help them sit or lie down and soothe them while you treat the wound.
3 Wash your hands with soap or an antibacterial solution. This will prevent infection.
- Disinfect any tools you use. These may include tweezers and small scissors.
4 Wash the wound under warm, soapy water. Rinse the wound under warm water for 5 to 15 minutes, then apply a clean, soapy cloth to the wound.
5 Stop bleeding. Shallow puncture wounds usually don't bleed much. Apply gently with a clean cloth, applying pressure to the wound until bleeding stops.
- If a little blood flows out, it can only help to cleanse the wound. A shallow wound may bleed for about 5 minutes.
- If the bleeding does not stop after a few minutes or, on the contrary, intensifies and worries you, then seek medical help immediately.
6 Examine the wound. Examine the size and depth of the wound and check for foreign objects embedded in the skin. For large puncture wounds, stitches may be needed. If you notice any of the following signs, call an ambulance or go to a medical facility as soon as possible:
- The bleeding does not stop after 5-10 minutes.
- The wound is 6 mm deep or more.Even if you can stop the bleeding, large wounds should still be examined by a doctor.
- The object has gone deep under the skin. If you cannot see it, but think that it remains in the wound, see your doctor.
- The victim stepped on a nail, injured himself with a rusty fish hook or other rusty object.
- The victim has been bitten by a person or animal. An infection can develop as a result of the bites.
- The affected area is numb or the affected area is unable to move the body part normally.
- There are signs that the wound is infected, including redness and swelling around the affected area, increased pain, throbbing, pus or other discharge, or chills or fever (see Part 4).

Part 2 of 4: How to Treat a Deep Puncture Wound

1 Seek medical attention immediately. Call an ambulance or emergency medical service. Only a medical professional should deal with deep puncture wounds.
2 Continue to apply pressure to the wound. If the bleeding is severe, and it is not possible to use a clean cloth or bandage, then press down with your hand.
3 Lift the affected body part. If possible, try to hold the injured area above the level of the victim's heart. This will help reduce bleeding.
4 Do not pull out objects brought under the skin. Instead, wrap tightly wrapped bandages or a clean cloth around the foreign object. Make sure there is minimal pressure on the trapped object.
5 Help the victim to take a stationary position. To help slow the bleeding, the victim must be completely at rest for at least 10 minutes.
6 Observe the victim. While you await the arrival of medical assistance, monitor the condition of the victim and his wound.
- Continue to apply pressure to the wound and replace the bandages if they become soaked in blood.
- Calm the victim until the medical team arrives.

Part 3 of 4: How to Treat a Small Puncture Wound

1 Pull out the small item (or items). Small fragments and other sharp objects can be removed with disinfected tweezers. If you see a large object or it has entered deeply into the body, see a doctor.
- You may need to use a small pair of scissors that you have previously sanitized to trim the loose skin around the wound
2 Clean the surface of the wound from dirt and other small particles. Wipe the wound with a clean cloth and / or remove the particles with disinfected tweezers
- As a result of a stab wound, all kinds of foreign objects could get under the skin: wood, fabric, rubber, dirt and other materials; when treating a wound at home, it can be difficult or almost impossible to see them. However, if you think that there are still foreign objects in the wound, then do not put anything in it or dig into it, but see a doctor.
3 Treat and bandage the wound. If the wound is no longer debris or sharp objects, apply antibacterial ointment or cream and bandage.
- Since small puncture wounds tend to have a small area of damage and do not cause excessive bleeding, bandages may not be necessary. However, puncture wounds to the feet or other parts of the body that may get dirty should be covered with a bandage to prevent dirt from entering the wound.
- Ointments such as neosporin and polysporin are great help - they are sold without a prescription. Apply them every 12 hours for 2 days.
- Use a porous adhesive bandage or bandage that will not stick to the wound. Change it daily so that the wound is not wet and rather heals.

Part 4 of 4: How to recover from a puncture wound

1 Treat the affected area with care. After treating a small puncture wound, it is recommended to do the following in the first 48 to 72 hours:
- Raise the affected area above the level of the heart, if possible.
- Change the bandages if they become dirty or wet.
- Try not to wet the affected area for 24 to 48 hours.
- After 24 to 48 hours, wash the wound with soap and water twice a day. An antibacterial ointment or cream can be applied as needed, but do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
- Avoid activities that put stress on the affected area, which could open the wound.
2 Watch for signs of infection. Small puncture wounds should heal in less than two weeks. If you notice any of the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately:
- Throbbing or increasing pain in the affected area.
- Redness or swelling of the wound. In particular, look for red streaks around or away from the wound.
- Pus or other discharge.
- Foul odor from the wound.
- Chills or temperature 38 ° C.
- Swelling of the lymph glands in the neck, armpits, or groin
3 Get a tetanus shot if needed. If the wound is in contact with soil, manure or dirt, the risk of contracting tetanus increases. Use the following guidelines to determine if a victim needs a tetanus shot (and medical advice):
- If more than 10 years have passed since the victim was vaccinated.
- If the object that caused the puncture wound was dirty (or if you are in doubt about it), or the wound is deep, or more than 5 years have passed since the victim received a tetanus shot.
- The victim is not sure when he was last vaccinated.
- The victim has never been vaccinated against tetanus.

Tips

Small puncture wounds usually do not pose a serious threat and do not require professional medical attention.
The new germicidal wipes are great for stopping bleeding.

Warnings

Be sure to watch for signs of infection around the wound as it heals. Signs of infection may include symptoms such as redness, swelling, throbbing, red streaks, or pus