Guidelines for Wound Care in the Home

Wounds are breaks in the skin. Slight wounds such as cuts and scrapes may only affect the epidermis, while others, such as punctures, may go deep below the skin into the flesh. While wounds may be treated differently according to how serious they are, proper wound care is always essential to promoting proper healing and minimizing the risk of infection and scarring.

Clean Wound

• If a wound requires professional medical attention, simply wrap it in something clean and rush to a hospital. Otherwise, start by cleaning out the wound site. Run the wounded area under cool water for a few minutes. Do not scrub the wound, as this may cause further bleeding and inflammation. You may, however, scrub the area around the wound, as long as you do so gently. If there is dirt or particles inside the wound, use tweezers cleaned with rubbing alcohol to clear away the debris. You should wash the area four times daily for the first 48 hours, according to an eMedicine Health article. After that, washing out the wound a couple of times a day will do. Make sure to be gentle to avoid reopening the wound.

Stop Bleeding

• If the wound is bleeding after you have cleaned it, applying pressure will stop the flow of blood. Use a clean cloth, tissue or gauze to apply pressure. If the blood begins to soak through, simply apply more material on top instead of removing what’s already there and applying new material. You may need to keep pressure on the wound for as long as 30 minutes. If the wound is on an arm or leg, elevating the limb above the heart will also help stop the bleeding.

Keep Bacteria Out

• Keeping a wound site sterile is critical to avoiding infection. Once you remove the wound from under running water, wrap it in medical gauze or, if none is available, in a clean cloth. Whenever you wash the injured area, use a new dressing to rewrap the wound. Whoever is changing the dressing should make sure to wash his hands well before and after changing the dressings, recommends Children’s Hospital Boston on its website. It’s also advisable to set out and open new dressings before taking the old ones off a wound, so the wound is exposed to the elements for as short a period of time as possible.

Avoid Irritating Wound

• Certain kinds of wounds, such as burns, require that you pay special attention to the skin. Burns damage glands that produce oils, so skin may be particularly dry. Avoid using products on the wound area that contain alcohol, advises the CHB. Cocoa butter is often recommended. Antibiotic ointments also may promote healing by sealing in the wound and keeping the area moist.