To ensure proper wound healing and avoid infections that can cause other damage to health, several factors must be considered. In order to act at the right time, a number of things must be avoided when treating a wound.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and protects the body from viruses, bacteria and fungi. When the skin is broken, there is a risk of these parasites entering and attacking other organs. Also, the deeper, larger, or dirtier the wound is, the more care it needs.
What to avoid when treating a wound
When treating a wound there are a few things you should avoid. Placing tight bandages or tourniquets to stop bleeding is a serious mistake, as it can cause limb necrosis. Nor should it cauterize or burn the wound.
1. Cotton or alcohol
The use of cotton has the drawback of the fibers it gives off, which could cause damage if the wound is closed with them inside. Nor is it good to use alcohol or mercurochrome products; they are irritants and some have vasodilatory effects.
The most advisable would be to apply a specific gauze, which does not release fibers and reduces the risks of cotton. In addition, it is more convenient to use antiseptics such as povidone iodine (Betadine®) or chlorhexidine solutions.
Although both have a high antiseptic power, povidone is inactivated by biological fluids. If there is suppuration or blood, it is more advisable to use the chlorhexidine.
2. Neither scrub nor extract
Do not scrub the wound to clean it nor remove foreign objects, such as dirt, glass, wood, or iron. If these objects are large, they could block the bleeding; this is a procedure that we should leave to the doctors.
You don’t even need to delay your doctor visit., especially when it comes to large and deep wounds. Wounds caused by human or animal bites and those caused by sharp objects should not be overlooked. They may need tetanus or rabies injections.
Recommendations for the treatment of a wound
To avoid the risk of infection, these would be the necessary steps in wound first aid:
- The first thing is to clean the hands of those who will help in healing to avoid infections. The next step would be to clean the wound with tap water, hydrogen peroxide or saline. Avoiding contact with blood will minimize the chances of infection.
- The next thing is to dry the surrounding skin, avoiding touching the wound. If we have an antiseptic, it’s time to use it, cleaning in circles from the inside out. We cover with gauze and tape or tape to protect the damaged skin.
- If there is bleeding it is essential to stop it. With the hand we will go to press with a gauze or a clean cloth that does not leave residues; when the epidemic stops, the wound should be covered.
- The time to receive medical treatment should not exceed six hours. This will prevent later complications, such as poor healing or infections.
wounds in children
In case of small wounds in children it is recommended wash them with running water (running water) to clean the dirt; If you have saline or hydrogen peroxide, even better. You can use a mild soap.
The wound must be dried without rubbing it, with small touches from the inside out. An antiseptic will be applied and covered with sterile gauze and tape; the process must be repeated periodically. Once the scab appears, it will no longer be necessary to continue healing.
If the wound is large and the bleeding is profuse, we will raise the body part so that it is higher than the heart. We will not apply tourniquets or check the wound. If there are lumps on the cheesecloth, we’ll leave them. If that gauze has been soaked in blood, we’ll put another one on top of it, but we won’t remove the first one.
The lesion may be swollen and red at first, which is evidence that the immune system is working to prevent infection. When the scab appears, the ideal is to apply a protection mechanism while new tissue is forming and wait for it to dry.
The importance of going to the doctor
In these cases it will be essential to visit the doctor:
- If the wound does not stop bleeding or does so intermittently, mobilization is required. When foreign objects are present, and even more so if they are large, it is necessary to go to a treatment center. Even a large and deep wound should be treated by specialists.
- Injuries to the neck, joints, genitals or face should be evaluated by a doctor. The former are functional areas and the face is for aesthetic care.
- When the wound involves the detachment of an organ, it is urgent to go to the treatment center. The separated part must be transported, preferably in a container with ice.
- Yes the flowing blood is darker and comes out in pulses It’s arterial blood. It’s an extremely serious case, requiring a quick trip to the hospital.
These considerations when treating a wound are of vital importance. The knowledge and information to care for it can mean the difference between successful treatment and complications.
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