Properly dressing a wound is one of the most basic first aid techniques there is.
The process remains unchanged regardless of the size or severity of the injury.
Minor cuts and scratches can be treated at home or on the road.
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Largerlacerationsmay also need to be dressed until medical help can be obtained.
Then, assess the bleeding.
Call 911 if there’s:
Do what you’re able to to stop the bleeding.
Clean the Wound
Antibiotic ointment isn’t necessary for a wound to heal nicely.
However, it can help reduce the pain of raw injuries, such as abrasions.
Hydrogen peroxide also isn’t necessary for cleaning a wound and it can be harmful.
The bubbling action of hydrogen peroxide creates oxygen gasmore than the blood can handle.
That can lead to a gas embolism, which is potentially fatal.
Cover the Wound
Get Medical Help
Deep lacerationsextend into the tissues below the skin.
Puncture wounds are harder to evaluate and should be based on how long the offending object is.
A covered wound should have its bandages replaced daily.
In some cases, bandaging may need to be replaced more frequently depending on how the wound heals.
Be sure to closely follow a doctor’s instructions when taking care of a wound at home.
The types of wound dressing are separated into modern and traditional dressings.
Modern wound dressings include alginate, film, foam, hydrocolloid, and hydrogel.
Traditional wound dressings include bandages, cotton wool, gauze, lint, and plasters.
Each throw in of dressing has a certain variety of wound that it is most effective in treating.
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