How to Rinse a Wound

Using antibacterial solutions to rinse a wound can do more damage than good. Gerald Lazarus, M.D., professor of dermatology and director of the Johns Hopkins Wound Center, states "The most common allergen in the United States is Neosporin, causing contact dermatitis." Antibacterial solutions obviously aren't the best thing for cleaning.

Cleaning the wound is a preparation, not a treatment. Don't be fooled; only specific solutions should be used for the wound to heal quickly. Take some time to prepare a wound kit for your home for when it's needed.

Things You'll Need

• Latex Gloves
• Magnifying glass
• Small surgical scissors
• Tweezers
• Irrigation syringe
• Antiseptic solution
• Saline solution
• Sterilized water
• Gauze

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash and dry your hands. Put on latex gloves to protect you and the one you're helping from contamination.

• 2

  Cut away any hairs around the wound using your scissors, being careful to keep the hairs out of the wound. Moisten a piece of gauze with antiseptic solution. Carefully wipe the skin around the wound, leaving the wound alone.

• 3

  Scan the wound with a magnifying glass for fragments of dirt and debris stuck in the wound. Manually remove the fragments using tweezers, being careful not to do more damage to the wound.

• 4

  Fill an irrigation syringe with saline solution. Angle the wound so the solution can flow out of the wound in one direction. Start at the top of the wound, hold the syringe approximately two inches above and perpendicular to the wound. Spray the solution into the wound slowly, working your way along the damaged area. Repeat this process several times to ensure the area is clean.

• 5

  Pour a little bit of sterilized water over the wound to reduce any risk of irritation from the saline solution. Place a piece of clean gauze over the area to keep it clean while you prepare the dressing to cover the wound.