The skin is our first and most effective line of defense against illness. When our skin is damaged due to a scrape, cut, puncture or burn we are vulnerable to infection. Correct wound care is essential to minimse healing time and avoid infection and worsening of the area of damaged skin. This article will cover basic steps to care for minor skin injuies and thereby promote healing. Good healing decreases the pain associated with injuries to the skin and reduces the size and appearance of scarring afterward.


Tips

• Wash your hands thouroughly before touching the wound. Wear clean medical rubber gloves if you have them when treating others.
• Clean the wound and change the dressing at least once a day, or if it becomes soiled or wet.
• Pack a portable wound care kit in a ziplock bag: A small bottled water, bactine or neosporin, a handful of gause pads or clean cloths (wash cloths), a few band aids, a roll of wide silk tape, a roll of gause and my favorite: Second Skin liquid barrier.
• A good protective device for wound dressings on the hand is to just wear a rubber glove. The glove will help keep the dressing clean and dry.
• Tetanus is a concern, if you haven't gotten a tetanus shot, get one.
• To make an ice pack: fill a ziplock sandwich bag about 1/2 full of (preferably crushed) ice and seal. Wrap in a dish towel or pillow case. Ice packs are used to cool burns, reduce swelling and bruising after an impact injury, and to slow bleeding initially, in the case of an open wound. Remove the cold pack every 10-15 minutes or if it becomes uncomfortable and allow the skin to warm up. This protects you from freezing and further damageing the skin.
• Burns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn_%28injury%29
• Signs and symptoms of infection include: Redness and tenderness to the affected area, yellow or green opaque drainage, elevated body temperature, cold sweats, chills.
• Learn about First Aid before you need it. Be prepared.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_bleeding_control

Warnings

• If in doubt, seek medical attention.
• If infection develops that is not resolved quickly with anti-infective ointment, seek medical attention.
• If the wound is bleeding profusely, or blood is pulsating from the wound, seek medical attention.
• Keep pressure on the wound until bleeding stops, but do not cut off circulation to the area completely.
• If you have a chemical burn, or if you feel the burn is deeper than just the first layer of skin, seek medical attention.
• This instruction is for minor wounds only.