WOUNDS

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 WOUND

A wound is a type of injury which happens

relatively quickly in which skin is torn, cut, or
punctured (an open wound), or where blunt
force trauma causes a contusion (a closed
wound). In pathology, it specifically refers to a
sharp injury which damages the Epidermis of
the skin.

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 CUTS

• caused by a clean, sharp-edged object such as

knife, razor, or glass splinter.

EXAMPLE:
Fresh incisional
wound on the
fingertip of the
left ring finger.

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 FIRST AID FOR CUTS

If the cut is severe and you can't get your child to a

hospital right away or must wait for an ambulance, begin
this treatment:
 Rinse the cut or wound with water and apply pressure
with sterile gauze, a bandage, or a clean cloth.
 If blood soaks through the bandage, place another
bandage on top of the first and keep applying pressure.
 Raise the injured body part to slow bleeding.
 When bleeding stops, cover the wound with a new, clean
bandage.
 Do not use a tourniquet .
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 FIRST AID FOR CUTS

Get Medical Care if:

 the cut is deep or its edges are widely separated
 the cut continues to ooze and bleed even after applying
pressure
 the injury was caused by an animal or human bite, burn,
electrical injury, or puncture wound (such as a nail).
Call 911 Right Away if Your Child:
 has a body part, such as a fingertip, that is cut of f. Put the
part that was cut of f in a sealed plastic bag right away. Put
the bag in a container with ice water.
 has a cut and the blood is spurting out and hard to control
 is bleeding so much that bandages are becoming soaked with
blood

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 LACERATION

• irregular tear -like wounds caused by some blunt trauma. A laceration is a

wound that is produced by the tearing of sof t body tissue. This type of
wound is of ten irregular and jagged. A laceration wound is of ten
contaminated with bacteria and debris from whatever object caused the
cut.

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 FIRST AID FOR LACERATION

Standard first aid for lacerations (irregular, jagged cuts) should focus
on thorough cleaning after stopping the bleeding, because lacerations
tend to be contaminated with bacteria and debris from the object that
caused the cut.
 Stop the flow of blood by applying firm pressure to the laceration
with a clean cloth or gauze. A small amount of blood is advantageous
in cleansing the wound, but large amounts of blood loss can be
dangerous.
 Properly clean the wound. Remove all dirt and debris by first running
cool water over the area, and then clean with a sterile cloth, warm
water, and mild soap.
 Apply antibiotic ointment, and then cover the wound area with a
sterile gauze bandage and first -aid tape.
 Clean the wound area daily with soap and water and apply a fresh
sterile bandage.
 For a minor laceration, remove the bandage after a couple of days to
promote healing.
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 FIRST AID FOR LACERATION

Professional Treatment of Lacerations

 Deep or wide lacerations generally require medical assistance,
as they probably will require stitches or staples. Stitching and
stapling both:
 Promote faster healing.
 Help keep bacteria out of the wound.
 Reduce the chance of infection.
 Prevent unsightly scarring.
You should call 911 immediately if:
 A cut is bleeding severely.
 Blood is spurting out.
 Bleeding can’t be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady
pressure.
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 PUNCTURE
• A puncture wound, caused by an object puncturing the skin, such as
a splinter, nail or needle, doesn't usually cause much bleeding. But
these wounds are of ten deep and can be dangerous because of the risk
of infection.

EXAMPLE:
 A puncture wound
from playing darts.
 An infected
puncture wound to
the bottom of the
forefoot.

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 FIRST AID FOR PUNCTURE

To take care of a puncture wound :

 Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.
 Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or
cloth.
 Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for five to 10
minutes. If dirt or debris remains in the wound, use a washcloth
to gently scrub it of f. See a doctor if you can't remove all of the
dirt or debris.
 Apply an antibiotic. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or
ointment. For the first two days, rewash the area and reapply the
antibiotic when you change the dressing .
 Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in
some people. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek
medical care.
 Cover the wound. Bandages help keep the wound clean .
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 FIRST AID FOR PUNCTURE

 Change the dressing. Do this daily or whenever the bandage

becomes wet or dirty.
 Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn't
healing or you notice any spreading redness, increasing pain,
pus, swelling or fever.

Get immediate medical help if the wound:

 Keeps bleeding after a few minutes of direct pressure
 Is the result of an animal or human bite
 Is deep and dirty
 Is caused by a metal object
 Is deep and to the head, neck, scrotum, chest or abdomen
 Is over a joint and could be deep
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 ABRASIONS

• superficial wounds in which the topmost layer of the skin (the

epidermis) is scraped of f. Abrasions are often caused by a
sliding fall onto a rough surface such as asphalt, tree
bark or concrete.

EXAMPLE:

Abrasion of
the lower leg.

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 DEGREE OF ABRASIONS

 First-degree abrasion
A first-degree abrasion involves superficial damage to the
epidermis. The epidermis is the first, or most superficial, layer of
skin. A first-degree abrasion is considered mild. It won’t bleed.
First-degree abrasions are sometimes called scrapes or grazes .
 Second-degree abrasion
A second-degree abrasion results in damage to the epidermis as
well as the dermis. The dermis is the second layer of skin, just
below the epidermis. A second -degree abrasion may bleed mildly.
 Third-degree abrasion
A third-degree abrasion is a severe abrasion. It’s also known as an
avulsion wound. It involves friction and tearing of the skin to the
layer of tissue deeper than the dermis. An avulsion may bleed
heavily and require more intense medical care.
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 FIRST AID FOR ABRASIONS

A first- or second-degree abrasion can usually be treated at home. To

care for an abrasion:
 Begin with washed hands.
 Gently clean the area with cool to lukewarm water and mild soap.
Remove dirt or other particles from the wound using sterilized
tweezers.
 For a mild scrape that’s not bleeding, leave the wound uncovered.
 If the wound is bleeding, use a clean cloth or bandage, and apply
gentle pressure to the area to stop any bleeding. Elevating the area
can also help stop bleeding.
 Cover a wound that bled with a thin layer of topical antibiotic
ointment, like Bacitracin, or a sterile moisture barrier ointment.
Cover it with a clean bandage or gauze. Gently clean the wound and
change the ointment and bandage once per day.
 Watch the area for signs of infection, like pain or redness and
swelling. See your doctor if you suspect infection.
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 FIRST AID FOR ABRASIONS

Seek immediate medical care for a third -degree abrasion, however.

Also see a doctor immediately if:

 bleeding doesn’t stop after at least five minutes of pressure

 bleeding is severe, or profuse
 a violent or traumatic accident caused the wound

See a doctor immediately if you suspect your wound has become

infected. Infections that are left untreated can spread and lead to
much more serious medical conditions.

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 AMPUTATION

• An amputation is the surgical removal of part of the body, such

as an arm or leg. Any wound resulting from surgery (such as
amputation) is at risk of becoming infected because germs could
enter the wound site. Infections can lead to further
complications or even death if not treated properly. Because your
residual limb will often be enclosed in a prosthetic socket or
liner, it can be more prone to infections and skin breakdown.

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 FIRST AID FOR AMPUTATION

Wound cleaning
 Use a mild soap along with warm water
 A gauze pad or clean cloth can be used to wash the wound
 Start at one end of the wound and clean to the other side
 Wash away drainage or dried blood, but don’t scrub the
wound
 Use a soft, clean towel or dry gauze to dry the area by
patting it gently
 Check the wound for swelling, redness, or drainage
 Do not soak your residual limb
 Inspect your stump every day
 Use lotion to avoid peeling or dry skin (do not use alcohol -
based lotions)
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 FIRST AID FOR AMPUTATION

Call your doctor if…

 The residual limb is redder, or if there are red streaks on the
skin
 The skin feels warmer to the touch than usual
 There is drainage or bleeding from the wound
 The pain is so intense that pain medication doesn’t help
 The wound is larger
 The skin is colder to the touch than usual
 There’s a smell coming from the amputation site
 There’s swelling or bulging around the amputation site
 There are new openings in the wound, or the skin is pulling
away
 There’s thick brown or gray discharge
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