1. Wound Care

2. Dressing – material that is placed directly on the wound
Bandage – material that holds dressing in place

3. Types of Dressing Gauze Occlusive Made of cloth Flexible and absorbent
Wide variety to accommodate different injury
Occlusive
Designed to prevent air and moisture from enter/exit wound
Typically, dressing is petroleum based or a thin plastic sheet

4. Every wound requires proper treatment
Protect yourself first
Control Bleeding
Clean Wound
Dry Wound
Treat Wound
Dress it
Bandage it

5. Cleaning the Wound Use clean, cool water to irrigate the wound
If surface wound, gently scrub with soapy water
Remove all foreign particles from wound
Not big stuff such as puncture wound
CinderSuds or H2O2 work as well

6. Dry Wound
Use a sterile gauze to pat dry

7. Dress wound
If a minor laceration, use butterfly bandage to pull wound closed
Apply antibiotic ointment
Dress wound with sterile non-stick gauze
Redress once a day
If drainage soaks dressing, or if is gets wet – redress
Check for signs of infection, periodically

8. Bandage Tight but not too tight
Allow enough room to allow wound to swell
Select proper size and material for injury and patients activities
Remove anything that interferes with bandage
Never reuse a dressing
Leave fingers and toes exposed (if possible) to check circulation