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First Aid Treatment for Wounds

Treating an everyday wound with first aid could prevent future or further infection and possible scarring of the external skin tissue or epidermis. The initial first aid response to a wound is to ensure that the bleeding has stopped. This can be done by compressing the wound with a clean cloth for up to five minutes. Ensure that your hands are cleaned to prevent further infection passed on to the wounded area.

  1. Ensuring the Wound is Clean

    • If the wound is severe or/and there is a large object within the wound then firstly, the object should ONLY be removed by a medical professional. Meanwhile, call 911 emergency services for help and advice whilst applying compression to the side area of the wound to stop the bleeding. If the wound is minor, ensure the wound contains no splinters and anything else alien to the body.

    Above the Heart

    • Elevating the wounded area of the body above the actual level of the heart, will also help decrease possible further blood loss and is advisable to apply during a first aid procedure towards a serious wound.

    Personal Safety

    • Ensure any cuts or grazes on your own hands are covered with a band aid or medical gloves before possible blood contamination from the injury to yourself.

    Covering the Wound

    • Wrap the wounded area with a bandage, first covering the wound with a first aid pad or gauze. Do not wrap the bandage to tightly, ensuring not to cut off the circulation. If the wound bleeds through the bandage itself, the Saint John's Ambulance service advises wrapping another bandage on top of the previous bandage and not to remove the old bandage from the wound.

    What should be kept in a household first aid box.

    • Apart from any important family medications, a first aid kit at home is an important small financial investment and include bandages, band aids, sterile gauze, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers, thermometer and several other components (see Resources).

    Other Medications

    • If your applying first aid to a serious wound, while awaiting the emergency medical services to arrive, find out if the injured person has any allergies or other illnesses as well as if they take any other medications. This information should be passed onto the medical team during the 911 call or upon the emergency services arrival.

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