If the wound is on an arm, hand, leg, or foot, you can also slow the bleeding by raising it above your heart. For an arm or hand, you can hold it in the air. For a leg or foot, you will need to lie in bed and prop your leg up on a pile of pillows.
If running water is not able to remove all of the debris from the wound, you may need to remove it with tweezers. Wash and then sterilize the tweezers with rubbing alcohol before touching them to the wound. Then gently remove any foreign particles embedded in the wound. If you cannot remove them all, go to the emergency room and have a doctor help you. If the wound has an object embedded in it, do not remove it. Instead, go to the doctor so that it can be removed safely without causing additional damage. [3] X Research source Do not wipe the wound with a cotton ball that might leave pieces of material stuck in the wound. This increases the risk of infection and may complicate healing.
Always read and follow the instructions on the packaging. If you are pregnant, nursing, or treating a child, consult your doctor before using any medications. Do not apply an antiseptic disinfectant like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. This can harm the tissues and make it take longer to heal. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Do not wrap so tightly that you cut off the circulation. Change the bandage daily to prevent infection. If it becomes wet or dirty, change it promptly. Use waterproof bandages or wrap plastic wrap over your bandages when you shower to keep them dry.
Increasing pain over time Warmth Swelling Redness Pus leaking from the wound Fever
Cut arteries. If you are bleeding bright red blood which is pumped out of your wound each time your heart beats, call emergency medical responders. It is important that you receive care before you lose too much blood. Bleeding that does not stop after a few minutes of pressure. This may occur if you have a severe, deep cut. If can also occur if you have a blood disorder or are on medication that prevents your blood from clotting. Wounds where you cannot move or feel a body part. This may be indicative of a deeper injury to the bone or tendons. Wounds with a foreign object stuck inside. Common examples include glass, shrapnel, or stones. In this case a doctor will need to remove the objects and prevent infection. Long jagged cuts that are difficult to heal. If the cut is larger than about two inches, you may need stitches to help it close. Wounds to the face. Facial wounds require expert care to prevent scarring. Wounds that have a high risk of infection. This includes wounds that are contaminated with feces, bodily fluids (including saliva from animal or human bites), or soil.
Stitches. Wounds longer than about 2 ½ inches may be sewn closed with sterile thread. The stitches may be taken out by a doctor five to seven days later for small incisions, seven to 14 for larger wounds. Or, if your doctor feels it is appropriate, she may use thread where the stitches will dissolve after a few weeks as the wound heals. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Never remove your stitches yourself. You may cause an injury or infection to the site of the wound. Tissue adhesive glue. This substance would be applied to the edges of the wound while it is held together. As it dries it will seal the wound shut. The glue will come off by itself after about a week. Butterfly stitches. These are not actually stitches. Instead they are sticky strips that hold the wound closed. The doctor will remove them after the wound heals. Do not remove them yourself.
Swab the infection so the pathogen can be studied and identified. This can help determine the best course of treatment. [13] X Research source Clean the wound and pack it with a dressing that will prevent it from closing. Give you antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Ask you to return after several days so the doctor can evaluate whether the infection has been successfully treated. If so, the doctor will then close the wound.
Tetanus is a bacterial infection. It is also called “lockjaw” because it can cause the muscles of the jaw and neck to contract. It can also cause breathing problems and can be fatal. There is no cure, so the best prevention is staying up to date on your vaccines.
Nurses, doctors, and physical therapists who will teach you to clean your wound properly and do exercises to maintain the blood flow. Specialized therapies to remove dead tissue. This may include cutting it away, using a whirlpool or syringe to wash it away, applying chemicals to dissolve the dead tissue, and using wet-to-dry dressings that dry on the wound and absorb dead tissue. Specialized procedures to promote healing include: compression stockings to improve blood flow, ultrasound to stimulate healing, artificial skins to protect wounds as they heal, removing fluid from the wound with negative pressure therapy, providing you with growth factors to promote healing, and using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to increase the blood supply to your tissues.
