Wound Care Dos and Don'ts: A Practical Guide for Patients
You will need to take care of your wounds, as you will know that it is an important part of life. Wounds can occur at any stage of your life.
Whether you have experienced a fall on the sports field, or whether you have cut your finger at the time cutting vegetables, you may experience cuts and wounds. You must know the treatment of wounds effectively and safely.
You can rest easy by knowing the doctors will suggest you take appropriate steps to heal wounds at minimal risk. They will also provide you with the right knowledge, and preparation for the treatment of wounds.
Before you know about comprehensive lists of dos and don’ts of wound care treatment, you will need to take the advice of the doctor.
Dos of Wound Treatment
While you need to make sure that you have the essentials of wound cleaning, you will need to know whether it is a more serious injury or a wound from the paper cut.
Wash Hands
It is necessary to wash your hands regularly so that you can ensure that your hands are clean. It will ensure that your hands are free from germs, additional dirt, and other harmful materials.
Stop Bleeding
It is also necessary to stop the bleeding immediately. You will know that smaller wounds like scratches, cuts, and scrapes will automatically stop bleeding. However, you will need to take care of severe abrasion.
You will need to use non-irritating and clean cloth, as you apply pressure on the area. You will be able to subside irritation of the wound in this way.
Rinsing of Wound
While you need to ensure that your wound is free from germs, dirt, and foreign matter, you will need to run clear water over your wound site. While hot water can lead to less irritation over the wound, hot water can dry out the skin and the affected area will be healed easily.
Gently Wash Wounds
It is necessary to use a clean and soft cloth and form a lather with mild soap. You will need to skip the soap for susceptible areas. While you need to rinse the soap from the wound bed, you will need to perform a light scrub on the wound.
You need to pat the area dry, as you continue the procedure of wound care.
Dressing of Wound
Doctors will advise you to dress the wound with ointment, as you need to provide a protective layer, and scabbing. There will be moisturization in the area, as there will be minimal scarring. Doctors will advise you to take:
Petroleum jelly
Antimicrobial gel
Foam dressing
Hydrocolloid
Bandage The Wound
When you are trying to keep your wound away from further damage, you will need to bandage your wound. It will stop the bleeding. It is necessary to use adhesive bandages. While doctors will advise you to secure bandages with paper tape, you may use strap gauze around the area.
Daily Cleaning of Wound
When it comes to wound care, daily cleaning is very necessary. While you need to check that that wounds are well- moisturized, and clean, you will need to check daily healing. If there are possibilities of infection, you will need to check with doctors.
Do Compress the Wound Area
Doctors will advise you to compress the wound area so that it can heal quickly. There will be less chance of swelling, and development of edema as well. The swelling is caused by the secretion of excess fluids from wounds.
Protect Wounds from the Sun
Your skin is not at its strongest, as your skin is healing. It is necessary for extra protection from elements like the sun. It is necessary to use sunscreen on the wound site so that you can heal your skin from damaging rays.
Different Types of Wounds
When you are looking for wound treatment, you will need to know about the type of wound care as well. While there are surgical wounds, skin abrasion, and pressure ulcers. You will need treatment for all types of wounds.
When it comes to surgical wounds and pressure ulcers, you will need to do the treatment of wounds with the help of doctors. You may be able to take the advice of doctors for treatment of abrasive wounds.
Don’ts of Wound Treatment
It is necessary to understand wound care treatment guidelines, as doctors will tell you to follow the don’ts of wound treatment.
When you are treating wounds, hygiene is key. While you will need to pair of non- powdered vinyl, you will need to wash your hands.
Do not Cause Friction
You should try to prevent the friction of the hand that will cause damage to the wound. You should try to avoid friction as pressure will combine with friction and lead to dead cells.
Do Not Soak the Wound
It is advised that you should not soak the wound. While you need to heal the wound, you will limit the bath time.
Final Words
When you have developed wounds, doctors will tell you about the dos and don’ts of wound treatment. While you need to practice them, you will heal rapidly.