How to Clean a Wound During First Aid

All open wounds are contaminated to some extent and are potential sites for infection. The best way to prevent infection is to remove all debris from the wound and discourage further growth of bacteria.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bandannas
• Evacuation Plan
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• Water Filters
• Eyebrow Tweezers
• First Aid Kits
• Irrigation Syringe
• Latex Gloves
• Nail Brushes
• Povidone-iodine
• Evacuation Insurance
• Safety Goggles
• Surgical Masks

Preparation

1. Scrub hands thoroughly with soap and disinfected water.

2. Put on latex gloves to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

3. Prepare a disinfectant solution of 1 oz. povidone-iodine and 1 liter disinfected water. See "How to Disinfect Water." Set the disinfectant solution aside for about five minutes.

Irrigation and Scrubbing

1. Scrub the area around the wound using a nailbrush and disinfectant solution. Scrubbing may be painful to the injured person, but it is important that all debris is removed.

2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers using the disinfectant solution.

3. Remove all large pieces of dirt, debris, dead skin and flakes of clotted blood from the wound.

4. Draw the disinfectant solution into an irrigation syringe.

5. Hold the syringe perpendicular to the wound, about 2 to 3 inches above it. Angle the syringe and tilt the wound so that the solution will flood the wound and drain away from the opening.

6. Press down on the plunger to emit a forceful stream of solution.

7. Repeat the irrigation using 1/2 to 1 liter of solution. You may need to use more if the wound is especially dirty.

8. Rinse the wound liberally with disinfected water, because the disinfectant solution may cause irritation to the skin if left on.

9. Recheck the wound for bleeding; blood clots may have been dislodged. You may have to apply pressure to stop bleeding. See "How to Stop Mild Bleeding During First Aid."

10. Check the clothing and area around the injured person to make sure his or her skin won't be exposed to disinfectant solution for a prolonged period of time, because this may cause burning.

11. Bandage the wound immediately after it has been thoroughly cleansed of all debris. See "How to Bandage a Wound During First Aid."

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to have at least 1 liter of disinfectant solution on hand for this procedure.

• Use a clear plastic bottle with measurements on the side, such as a Nalgene bottle, for easy measurement when mixing the disinfectant solution. These bottles include measurements in milliliters and ounces.

• If povidone-iodine solution is not available, use disinfected water to cleanse the wound.

• Irrigation syringes are also called pressure irrigators. If an irrigation syringe is not available, improvise by puncturing a plastic bag with a small hole, drilling or burning a hole into the top of a water bottle, or using a sports bottle with a squirting top. The idea here is to create a high-pressure flow of water, which will remove debris without damaging the tissue.

• Infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are transmitted via the exchange of bodily fluids. Protect yourself by wearing latex gloves. Wear goggles or glasses to protect against spurting blood or fluids. Wear a surgical mask to prevent the spread of other diseases. If you don't have gloves, a surgical mask and goggles, improvise by placing your hand in a plastic bag, wearing sunglasses, and covering your mouth with a bandanna.

• Do not use alcohol, iodine or mercurial solutions to cleanse a wound; these can damage the tissue.

• Evacuate immediately if any of the following conditions occur: blood flow cannot be stopped; a tourniquet has been applied; the wound is large or gaping widely; the wound involves a joint, foot, hand or face; the wound involves an embedded object; skin or parts of the body have been partially or completely severed away.

• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.