How to Wet Pack an Open Wound

Open wounds need to be carefully washed and dressed to ensure the prevention of infection. Sure, no one wants to have to deal with a wound like this; but surgical complications or even a simple, everyday accident can leave a wound in need of wet pack care. Read on to be prepared to take care of one.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves
• Irrigating Syringe
• Sterile Water
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Sterile Container
• Gauze
• Feminine Napkins
• Tape
• Antibacterial Soap

1. Prepare. In order to make dressing the open wound as clean as possible, all supplies need to be gathered before beginning the dressing change. Pour 1/2 sterile water and 1/2 hydrogen peroxide into the sterile container. Open several packages of gauze place the pads on top of their paper wrappers on the table top. Open the feminine napkin and place on the table within reach. Tear off several tabs of tape.

2. Remove the old. Tear off all of the old tape and remove the cover bandages. Pull all dry gauze out of the open wound and discard.

3. Clean the open wound. Using the irrigation syringe, draw the sterile water and hydrogen peroxide mixture into the tube. Irrigate the open would with several tubes of the solution.

4. Pack the open wound. With the irrigation syringe, wet enough gauze to pack into wound snugly. Continue to add wet gauze until the level of gauze is even with the skin.

5. Cover the wet packing. Place the feminine napkin (non-adhesive side down) over top of the wet gauze. Tape the napkin in to place with the tape tabs.

Tips & Warnings

• With each packing, less and less gauze will be needed to pack out the open wound.
• Before beginning the preparation step, be sure to disinfect the table top where you will be placing your supplies.
• The irrigation syringe should be sterilized before and after each use.

[swtndspcy]

on 5/31/2009 I would consult a doctor before using this suggested sterile solution! Most often sterile saline used for wound irrigation is used for this purpose. I also can not express enough the importance of using 100% cotton gauze to pack the wound. You may use the rayon/poly blends for the outter dressing but do not use them to pack the wound.