Group 1
Laura Stephanie Eugenio Gulla
Elanie Beñasan Pucnid
Ganyalib, Chester Loyd B.
Rankine Capuyan
Abdul Nasif D. Sheika Datu
Open wound
An open wound is an injury involving an external or internal break in body tissue, usually
involving the skin. Nearly everyone will experience an open wound at some point in their life.
Most open wounds are minor and can be treated at home.
Falls, accidents with sharp objects, and car accidents are the most common causes of open
wounds. In the case of a serious accident, you should seek immediate medical care. This is
especially true if there’s a lot of bleeding or if bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes.
Abrasion
An abrasion occurs when your skin rubs or scrapes against a rough or hard surface.
Road rash is an example of an abrasion. There’s usually not a lot of bleeding, but the
wound needs to be scrubbed and cleaned to avoid infection.
Puncture
A puncture is a small hole caused by a long, pointy object, such as a nail or needle.
Sometimes, a bullet can cause a puncture wound.
Punctures may not bleed much, but these wounds can be deep enough to damage
internal organs. If you have even a small puncture wound, visit your doctor to get
a tetanus shot and prevent infection.
Laceration
A laceration is a deep cut or tearing of your skin. Accidents with knives, tools, and
machinery are frequent causes of lacerations. In the case of deep lacerations, bleeding
can be rapid and extensive.
Avulsion
An avulsion is a partial or complete tearing away of skin and the tissue beneath.
Avulsions usually occur during violent accidents, such as body-crushing accidents,
explosions, and gunshots. They bleed heavily and rapidly.
Incised wound
A clean, straight cut caused by a sharp edge (i.e. a knife). Tends to bleed
heavily as multiple vessels may be cut directly across. Connecting
structures such as ligaments and tendons may also be involved.
Cuts and scrapes: First aid
1. Wash your hands. This helps avoid infection.
2. Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding
on their own. If needed, apply gentle pressure with a clean
bandage or cloth and elevate the wound until bleeding stops.
3. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with water. Keeping the
wound under running tap water will reduce the risk of infection.
Wash around the wound with soap. But don't get soap in the
wound. And don't use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can be
irritating. Remove any dirt or debris with a tweezers cleaned with
alcohol. See a doctor if you can't remove all debris.
4. Apply an antibiotic or petroleum jelly. Apply a thin layer of an
antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the surface moist
and help prevent scarring. Certain ingredients in some ointments
can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop
using the ointment.
5. Cover the wound. Apply a bandage, rolled gauze or gauze held
in place with paper tape. Covering the wound keeps it clean. If
the injury is just a minor scrape or scratch, leave it uncovered.
6. Change the dressing. Do this at least once a day or whenever
the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
7. Get a tetanus shot. Get a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in
the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty.
8. Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if you see signs of
infection on the skin or near the wound, such as redness,
increasing pain, drainage, warmth or swelling.
When to see a doctor
an open wound is deeper than 1/2 inch
bleeding doesn’t stop with direct pressure
bleeding lasts longer than 20 minutes
bleeding is the result of a serious accident
Are there any complications from
having an open wound?
The main complication of an open wound is the risk for infection. Call your
doctor immediately if you’ve had a puncture, deep laceration, or serious
accident and you’re showing signs of significant bleeding or infection.
Signs of hemorrhage include continuous bleeding that doesn’t respond to
direct pressure. You may have an infection if the wound shows:
an increase in drainage
thick green, yellow, or brown pus
pus with a foul odor
Other signs of infection include:
a fever of over 100.4°F (38°C) for more than four hours
a tender lump in your groin or armpit
a wound that isn’t healing
