guide for caring for a wound

steps for caring for a wound

A wound or injury is a break in your skin; for example, scrapes, cuts and scratches. You might end up wounding yourself when cleaning, cooking, or gardening. Your kid could injure themselves whilst playing at home. A wound or injury can take place at any time, so it is important that you know the ways to care for your wound. Appropriate cut or burn wound care is vital to stop the infection and various other complications. It is an important part of recovery too.

wound dressing steps

Wound care is a vital procedure utilized for several medical treatments. This basic skill is often a great prospect for fresh healthcare experts or professionals.  The majority of medical assistants are taught to administer care for wound that belongs to the surface-level category. Also, they often assist medical providers throughout numerous wound-care procedures.

• Clean your hands

Infection prevention is fundamental in injury or wound care and thus you need to ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before applying wound care. You can use soap and water to wash your hands and apply hand sanitiser later. 

• Stop the bleeding

In order to stop the bleeding, you must put some pressure on the wound. Use a bandage or a clean cloth to perform this. You should raise the injured or wounded area above your heart level, preferably as this can aid you to utilize gravity to slow the flow of blood to the injured area. 

wound dressing procedure steps

• Clean the wound

Utilize running water to clean your wound. You must perform this for five minutes, at least. You can make use of soap around your wound but you need to ensure that you do not use it inside. If the cut or wound is due to a fall outside, then there’s a chance that there might be some debris that can trigger an infection. If large debris is entrenched in your wound, it is best to get medical attention from a medical expert, as soon as possible. Be gentle and ensure that you do not irritate your wound. The major purpose here is to form the best environment for nursing back to health. 

On the other hand, you can utilize the saline solution to cleanse the wound. You must dip gauze in the solution and utilize that to wash the wound. The saline solution won’t do any damage to your tissues, unlike antiseptics. Pat dry the area that has the wound using a clean towel or pile of tissues. 

• Use antibacterial ointment

If your cut or wound is minor, you can make use of an antibacterial ointment to avoid an infection.

• Shield the wound

The subsequent step is to guard the wound by wrapping it using a sterile dressing and covering it with a bandage if possible using a non-adhesive pad. This guards the skin near your wound and prevents your wound from escalating and applies the necessary pressure for quick healing purposes. 

• Change your dressing

The dressing must be changed once every day. When you change the dressing, ensure that you wash your hands in advance, clean your wound carefully, and fix the sterile bandage in position. Whilst changing your dressing, you should assess the healing process and visit a doctor if you notice bleeding. 

potential wound infection risks

Local complications incorporate late and non-healing of your wound, abscess formation, cellulitis, osteomyelitis and additional wound breakdown. Systemic complications comprise bacteremia with the likelihood of sepsis and distant hematogenous spread. You should be aware of step by step first aid for cuts before you start treating the wound. 

You must go to a doctor if;

• The wound is deeper [more than ½ an inch]
• The bleeding doesn’t stop after applying pressure for 5-10 minutes
• The wound is near your eye
• The wound is ragged or gaping
• It was triggered by something rusty or dirty
• It was caused by a human or animal bite
• The wound is very painful
• It shows infection signs

tips for wound care

• Observe symptoms

You should always watch out for symptoms of infection. Bad odour, severe pain, yellowish and thick discharge, and skin darkening around your wound are some indications of atypical wound healing and they must be assessed by a medical examiner right away. 

• Indications of latex or adhesive allergy 

If you sense some blistery, itchy or burning feeling under the bandage, then you might have an allergic reaction to the adhesive utilized in the bandage. You must try opting for paper tape and sterile gauze instead or choose to use an adhesive-free plaster. 

• Diabetic wounds

When a diabetic person gets a wound, it might take some time to heal. The slow healing can boost the risk of developing infections and complications. An individual who deals with their diabetes properly can enhance the rate at which their diabetic wound heals and decrease the probability of a grave or severe infection. 

• Surgical wounds

Looking after surgical wounds is identical to handling scrapes and cuts. You will need to guard the incision using a bandage for some days and then change your dressing on a daily basis. You need to follow the instructions of your doctor for looking after staples or stitches. You should also keep the region dry and describe any increase in redness or bleeding to your medical practitioner. 

Wound care includes each part of your wound management process. It is a fundamental aspect of healthcare and might necessitate special skills. Medical professionals can decide on the best treatment to promote healing and keep assessing the skin of the patient. Mastering this particular skill will produce a better experience for the healthcare practitioner and his/her patient. 

The nurses at Portea are experienced in handling numerous kinds of wounds; infected wounds, post-operation surgical wounds, pressure sores etc. They will offer appropriate wound care for a quicker recovery. They can visit your home and offer these services. The frequency of the visit will differ based on your needs and treatment plan.