Learning to manage wounds is a very common component of a first aid course. Minor wounds usually respond to basic treatment well without any complications and they usually heal even without any major medical intervention. Minor wounds usually take a few days to heal and they are not a cause of major concern to many. Major wounds, including deep cuts, are potentially dangerous as they are highly susceptible to infection. Complications can also arise such as gangrene especially among diabetic individuals and those who have poor circulation as bacterial infection may set in. Proper wound care is essential and you will need a basic first aid kit in order to prevent further complications from a wound.
The material posted on this page for wound care is for learning purposes only. To learn to recognize and manage major and minor wounds, including embedded objects and avulsions, register for a standard or emergency first aid course today.
First Aid Kits for Wound Care
To help individuals with serious and minor wounds it is important to know the contents of a first aid kit. Basic knowledge and supplies can help prevent complications such as infections. The two most important things when managing serious wounds is infection and blood loss. You will need the following medical supplies to facilitate proper wound care and management:
- Liquid bandages
- Elastic wrap
- Rolled bandage
- Oval eye pads
- Saline to flush the wound
- Cleansing pad
- Topical anesthetic
- Antibacterial ointment
- Clean dressings or gauze
- Small mirror
- Surgical gloves
- Irrigation syringe
- Knife
- Safety razor
- Cotton tipped swab
- Shears
- Alcohol
- Tape
- Cotton
- Antibiotics
- Pain reliever (paracetamol)
Administering wound care and treatment
When administering wound care, make sure to check for any debris on the wound. Remove any visible foreign material if doing so will not cause further bleeding. However, when you think that pulling it out any debris may cause more bleeding, it is best not to remove it and wait for the medical responder. Clean the wound and the surrounding area to prevent any infection. Flush out the wound with a saline solution and apply an antiseptic to prevent infection. Cover the wound with a clean gauze or dressing and keep it in place with a tape. If there is severe bleeding, cover the wound with a clean dressing or cloth. Do not remove the dressing when it is already soaked with blood. Instead add more dressings on top to cover and hold it in place. This will help reduce the bleeding and help with clotting. Do not attempt to apply a tourniquet. When the wound is located on the extremities, elevate the affected area to prevent more bleeding and blood loss.
Related Video
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-vHanFv1o” width=”220″]Reference:
First Aid for Sports. Wound Care. Retrieved on July 1, 2014 from http://www.firstaid4sport.co.uk/Wound-Care-Cwound/