Basic Wound Care

Abrasion wounds: the surface layers of the skin is broken or grazed.

Incised wounds: cut or slice into the skin.

Signs and symptoms

Check responses:

• Look for foreign objects and dirt particles

• Punctured blood vessels or severed arteries

• Check how deep the wound is and bleeding severity

• Look for infection (red, inflamed around edges, puss)

First aid

• Clean according to severity. For minor wounds

• Avoid breathing, coughing or sneezing over the wound

• Clean with a non-fibre shedding material or sterile gauze soaked in normal saline or clean water (do not use cotton wool or material that will fray or leave fluff)

• Don’t scrub embedded dirt, this can traumatise the site even more

• See a doctor if dirt cannot be removed to reduce the chance of infection

• Apply an antiseptic

• Cover with a non-stick sterile dressing such as a Band-Aid or a non-adhesive dressing held in place with a non-allergenic tape, (try not to touch the dressing’s surface before applying it)

• Change the dressing according to the manufacturer’s instructions (some may be left in place for several days to a week)

A a  wound that fails to heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is a chronic wound. See a doctor immediately for symptoms such as bleeding, increasing pain, pus or discharge, and/or fever.