How to Treat an Open Wound

From small children to elderly grandparents, cuts and scrapes are a fact of life. Knowing how to take care of them is vital when you're trying to fight infection.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• soap
• water
• antibacterial ointment
• bandages, various sizes
• the common sense to know when to go to the emergency room

How to Treat an Open Wound

1. Clean the wound. Hold under cool, flowing water for several seconds. cool water will reduce the amount of bleeding. Wash with soap and rinse well. Antibacterial soaps are good, but most bar soaps will work.
2. Assess the wound. Most cuts will naturally try to close right away. If the wound gapes open, has jagged edges or is deeper than you first thought, see a doctor. You may need stitches.
3. Apply an antibacterial ointment, if you have any. This will kill any other germs left behind and prevent new from entering the wound. It will also keep the area moist.
4. Apply an appropriate bandage. Butterfly bandages help to hold a wound together. There are finger tip bandages as well as ones to fit over knuckles. You may have to fashion your own with gauze and surgical tape, if the wound is overly large (like a scrape or abrasion).
5. Clean and re-bandage daily.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the wound from getting wet.
• Watch closely for signs of infection.
• Try and find what you got hurt on. Maybe you can prevent future injury to someone else.
• Seek medical attention if you have any concerns, or the wound is larger than you first thought.