CARE OF WOUNDS

Definition: It is the care given to wounds which include dressing, bandaging, irrigation and the
Application of medication.

Purposes:
1. To promote healing.
2. To remove soiled dressings, cleanse the wound and apply a sterile dressing.

Points to Remember:
1. The primary aim in caring for wounds is to keep clean ones from becoming infected and to
decrease the infection as rapidly as possible on infected ones.
2. Only sterile pick up forceps is used to take sterile dressing out of containers.

Equipments:
Tray containing:
Betadine Pick up forceps in Lysol sol.
Hydrogen Peroxide (or solution ordered) Kidney basin
Medicine ordered Old newspaper
Asepto syringe
Sterile pack containing:
1 forceps, Kelly
1 stitch remover
1 thumb forceps
Bandage and scissors
Adhesive
Bandage

Procedure: Principle

1. Wash hands before dressing

2. Bring the treatment tray to the bedside. Open
sterile pack on the cart. (Use sterile towel to
drape the table).
3. With pick up forceps put enough dressings
such as cotton balls, or gauze over the sterile
towel.
4. Put kidney basin or old newspaper within easy
reach to receive the soiled dressing.
5. Undo the materials that are securing the soiled Handling dressing with forceps decreases the
dressing. Lift the soiled dressing from the danger of carrying organisms on to the worker’s
wound with individual forceps, being careful hands. Trauma to the wound to interfere with
to prevent trauma to the wound. the healing process.
6. Drop soiled dressing into the old newspaper Disposing of materials laden with organisms
for later disposal in the utility room. thru preventing their spread.
7. Cleanse wound carefully with an antiseptic of
the physician’s choice.
8. Discard the gauze or the cotton used for
cleansing after each stroke over the wound.
9. If the wound irrigation is ordered, place the
patient in such a position that the solution will washing away organisms, tissue debris, and
flow from the wound down to the kidney basin
held below the wound.
10.Irrigate the wound generously but carefully
with the solution of the physician’s choice,
being sure to irrigate pockets in the wound.
11.Cleanse the skin around the wound by washing
it with an antiseptic solution.
12.Place the bland ointment on the skin imme-
diately surrounding the wound if drainage is
present(if ordered.)
13.Cover the wound with sterile dressing and
secure it in place with a bandage or adhesives.
14.Wrap soiled dressings in the old newspaper
and dispose in the utility room.
15.Wash and clean all instruments used. Soak in
Lysol solution 1% in kidney basin from 20 min.
to 1 hour.
Friction created by cleansing aids in removing
organisms, tissue debris and drainage, all of
which retard healing.
Contaminated gauze will redistribute the drainage
over the clean area.
Solution directed over into the wound aids in
drainage, all of which retard healing.
Solution directed over and into the wound aids in
washing away organisms, tissue debris and
drainage, all of which retard healing.
Keeping the area around the wound as clean as
possible aids in preventing infection of the wound.
- An emollient on the skin prevents drainage from
irritating the epithelium.
- Well-secured sterile dressing protect the wound
from trauma, minimize the danger of organisms
entering the wound and absorb secretions.

Recording:
1. Time the wound was dressed.
2. Any medication, irrigation, etc. done.
3. The characteristics of the wound.
Betadine

GAUZE
KELLY PICK UP FORCEP
Hydrogen peroxide surgical scissor

Cotton container / Cotton balls

Surgical plaster/ tape hypoallergenic tape

Treatment cart / Dressing trolley