How to Check a Wound for Infection

Even if you are extremely diligent about cleaning and dressing a wound, wounds are, by nature, contaminated and may still become infected. Check wounds daily for signs of infection; catching these signs early will minimize damage to the surrounding tissue and the risk to the injured person's overall health.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bandannas
• Evacuation Plan
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• Antibiotic Creams
• Compression Bandages
• Cotton Swabs
• Elastic Bandage Tapes
• Eyebrow Tweezers
• First Aid Kits
• Gauze
• Gauze Wraps
• Latex Gloves
• Occlusive Dressings (Second Skin)
• Semi-occlusive Dressings (Telfa)
• Thermometers
• Plastic Bags
• Scissors
• Evacuation Insurance
• Waterproof Tape
• Safety Goggles
• Surgical Masks
• Plastic bags

1. Protect yourself. Scrub your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and put on latex gloves to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

2. Remove the bandage and dressing from the wound. Dispose of them immediately, handling them only with latex gloves or tweezers. The best means of disposal is burning, but wrapping them in plastic and throwing them away in the trash can is suitable for most situations.

3. Check the wound for any pus, swelling, redness or faint red lines radiating from the wound.

4. Feel the area surrounding the wound for any heat.

5. Ask the injured person if he or she has experienced any pain or chills.

6. Look for swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes, located under the armpits, in the groin and neck areas, and behind the ears.

7. Take the person's temperature. Consider a temperature higher than 100 degrees F a possible sign of infection.

8. Contact a doctor immediately if you observe any fever, chills, swelling of the lymph nodes, or red lines radiating from the wound, or if you are in any doubt whatsoever.

9. Gently draw a circle with a pen around any reddening of the skin to help monitor whether the infection is spreading.

10. When you finish examining the wound, apply a fresh dressing and band-age the wound.

Tips & Warnings

• If you see signs of infection or have questions or concerns, contact your doctor.

• Infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are transmitted via the exchange of bodily fluids. Protect yourself by wearing latex gloves, and use responsible means of disposing of used bandages and gauze. Tweezers and any implements used to check a wound should be disinfected by soaking in isopropyl alcohol immediately after use.

• Some people are allergic to latex gloves. Use latex gloves only if you know you are not allergic to them.