Care of Wounds

In general, to care for wounds you should:

Expose the wound. Clothing over and around the open wound must be cut away. Avoid aggravating the patient's injuries. Do not try to remove clothing by pulling the items over the patient's head or limbs. Simply lift aside or cut the clothing away from the site of the injury.

Clear the wound surface. Remove foreign matter from the surface of the wound with a sterile gauze pad or clean towel. This method will reduce the chance of contamination from your fingers. Do not try to clean the wound or pick out any particles or debris. If bleeding from the wound is controlled, take care not to restart or increase the flow of blood.

Control the bleeding. Start with direct pressure at the point of bleeding or with direct pressure and elevation. If the bleeding continues, try pressure point control. A tourniquet should be used as a last resort for life-threatening bleeding from a limb.

Prevent Further contamination. Use a sterile dressing, clean cloth, or clean handkerchief to cover the wound. After the bleeding has been controlled, bandage the dressing in place.

Keep the patient lying still. Any patient activity increases circulation. Keep the patient lying down, using a blanket or other form of covering to provide protection from the elements.