Wound Care Ready: How To Treat Common Wounds

When incidents occur, it’s best to be ready with a proper response. Here we’ll show you how to tend to common wounds at home and practices that can help prevent scars.

Whether you’re moving into a new home or packing for a family trip, planning ahead of time helps to sort out issues that may arise. For parents that have toddlers running around, the task may involve covering electrical sockets and taking care of sharp corners. However, no matter how careful we try to be, there are still unforeseeable incidents that may occur that lead to cuts and scratches. From kitchen mishaps to kids scraping their knees, young and older people alike aren’t immune to getting open injuries.

But even the most minor wounds warrant the most attentive care. Having an external break on your skin makes it easy for germs and bacteria to enter your body. That is why proper wound response should be an essential skill that everyone should have. With the appropriate care and attention, you can prevent further harm and infection from coming upon you and your family’s health.

Refresh your knowledge and learn how to give immediate aid to yourself and your family members.

Assessing the Wound

Getting wounds may cause a certain level of panic, especially for parents that are treating their kids. However, it’s essential to remain calm in these situations so that you may adequately examine the wound.

It’s helpful to know the difference between minor wounds and those needing more attention from medical professionals. A wound needs more serious attention from a licensed healthcare provider when:

• the wound is deeper than a half-inch

• bleeding won’t stop even with direct pressure

• bleeding has been longer than 20 minutes

Contact your medical provider immediately to perform the proper techniques to manage the injury and pain for severe wounds.

Treating Common & Minor Wounds at Home

In most situations, minor wounds can find a quick and easy treatment at home. Here are some steps you can follow.

1. Wash your hands

Before addressing wounds, make sure that your hands are clean. Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap to remove as much as germs that may cause infection. Don’t forget to clean under your nails for any stuck debris.

2. When there’s bleeding, put direct pressure

In most cases, for minor wounds like cuts and scrapes, the bleeding usually stops on its own. However, if applicable, you can stop the bleeding by putting direct pressure on the source with a clean cloth or bandage. Elevating the affected area will also help stop the bleeding.

3. Clean the wound

Clear and rinse the wound with gentle running water to keep away from infection. If there’s any dirt and other debris, pluck it off gently with sterile instruments. Then, wash the area around the injury with soap, but be careful not to get any soap on the wound itself as this may cause irritation. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine to clean the wound. Using these products may cause more harm and set back the healing process.

4. Apply antibiotic ointment

5. Dress and cover the wound

Keep the wound clean while it heals by covering it with a sterile bandage or gauze held in place by medical tape. Make sure that the bandage or dressing is not too tight as this may affect blood circulation. For minor cuts and scratches, there’s no need to cover it with a bandage.

6. Watch out for infection

During the healing process, it’s natural for there to be some redness in the wounded area. This visual cue is a sign that your immune system is working to fight off infection. However, it would be best if you also watched out for abnormal indicators. Here are some signs that may warrant the attention of your doctor:

• there is increased pain despite taking pain medicine.

• the wounded area is getting more swollen.

• there is a liquid substance secreting from the wound, such as blood or pus.

The ABC’s Of Helping Your Body Heal Faster

No matter the severity of your wounds, sufficient vitamin intake also plays a crucial role in the healing process. Vitamins A, B, C, and E each have their own benefit to hasten the process and prevent infection and scars. Here’s how each vitamin fulfills its role.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is an essential vitamin in all the stages of wound healing, and this vitamin is credited more popularly for its ability to aid in controlling inflammation. But studies have also shown that supplementing with Vitamin A may also lessen the risk of mortality from infectious diseases.

Vitamin B

The primary benefit of this vitamin is to assist your body in producing more energy. And therefore, it hastens and supports the movement of your cells for repair and regulation. Your body’s immune system works faster to heal wounds with the help of B vitamins.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant that primarily works to assist and speed up collagen formation. Collagen is a crucial protein that acts as connective tissue in various parts of your body, especially in the skin and joints.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that supports the immune system and cell formation. More popularly known as the beauty vitamin, this essential nutrient promotes healing in minimizing scar formation of wounds and burns.

Supply your body with all the essential vitamins that’ll keep your immunity response in prime condition. Get Conzace composed of the highest levels of Zinc with Vitamins A, C, E for adults. Kids may also receive the combined effect of Vitamin C and Zinc with Bewell-C Kids. Find these vitamins today from your kapitbahay pharmacy, MyPharma.

Learning proper first aid and wound care is just as crucial as setting rules in the household for everyone’s safety. Not only do these practices help prevent further injury but it will also allow you to provide the best care for the people who matter to you most. So apart from developing habits on how to keep the corners free from germs, it’s also time to sit everyone down to learn a thing or two about treating injuries. Add wound care to your family’s skillset and be a stronger household against any challenge that you may come to face. — (MyPharma)