Assessment & Acute Care of Wounds

Properly caring for a wound reduces the risk of infection.

Breaks in the skin make it easy for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, leaving the patient at risk for infection. Caring for a wound can prevent infection. Large, wide wounds should be treated by a physician or other medical professional because they likely will need to be stitched shut. An infected wound should be seen immediately by a medical professional. Infected wounds may have signs of pus and the area around them may be red, hot and tender. The patient with an infected wound may have a fever.

Things You'll Need

• Clean gauze or cloth
• Water
• Soap
• Antibacterial ointment
• Gauze and tape or bandages

Instructions

1. Stop bleeding by applying constant pressure to the wound. Press clean gauze or cloth against the wound for 20 minutes. Elevating the wounded area can speed the process.

2. Clean the wound by flushing it with clean water. Remove any dirt or objects that may have entered the wound. If you are unable to remove all foreign objects, seek medical assistance.

3. Clean the area surrounding the wound with soap and water, taking care not to get soap into the wound.

4. Apply antibiotic ointment in a thin layer across the surface of the wound to guard against infection.

5. Cover wounds with a clean dressing. Lay gauze over them and tape the edges, or apply a clean bandage. Change the dressing at least once a day.

Tips & Warnings

• Seek medical attention for serious, deep and large, or infected wounds.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid
• Drugs: Acute Wound Care
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals