wound care-signs and symptoms & home care

March 17, 2006

I was kind of hoping that it would give you an idea of WHAT to wash the

wound with...do they mean just water?

Wound Care

Wound Care Signs and Symptoms

* Scrapes and abrasions are superficial (on the surface). The deeper

skin layers are intact, and bleeding is more of a slow ooze. They are

usually caused by friction or rubbing against an abrasive surface.

(cuts) go through all layers of the skin and into the fat or deeper tissues.

Bleeding may be more brisk or severe. Severe blows by a blunt object, falls

against a hard surface, or contact with a sharp object are the most common

causes of lacerations.

wounds are generally caused by a sharp pointed object entering the skin.

Most common examples are stepping on a nail, getting stuck with a needle or

a tack, or being stabbed with a knife. Bleeding is usually minimal, and the

wound may be barely noticeable.

Wound Care

Home Care

Scrapes and abrasions often do not require any more care than washing the

area 4 times daily for the first 48 hours and keeping the area covered with

a sterile bandage. Deeper wounds and bites will require medical attention.

* Stop the bleeding: If bleeding will not stop, apply a clean bandage

to the area and press down on it for 10 minutes.

* Clean the wound: Water under pressure is the best way to clean a

wound. Either a briskly running faucet or a hand-held shower nozzle is the

best way to wash a wound. The wound should be washed for 10-15 minutes. Make

sure you remove all dirt and debris. Do not scrub deep wounds or bites, just

wash them out.

* Check when you last had a tetanus shot.

be puncture wounds, lacerations, or a combination of both. These wounds are

always contaminated by saliva and require extra care.

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