What to do before applying a plaster or gauze on a wound?

We take for granted that we know how to correctly apply plasters, bandages, and gauzes, but is that really the case? Let's discover the fundamental steps to take immediately after we've sustained an injury.

Welcome back to the PVS blog!

 

In this week’s article, we talk about wounds and how to act in the first moments right after we’ve hurt ourselves. We take for granted that we know how to correctly apply plasters, bandages, and gauzes, but is that really the case?

 

In this blog post, we start from the first moments after the injury and delve into a fundamental step: cleaning the wound. This step is crucial and should be carried out with attention and care.

 

To support us, we refer to an article read on band-aid.com.

 

 

Before bandaging: observations and assessments

 

Whether it’s a small cut or a more generous wound, the first thing to do is to understand the severity of the problem. Minimizing the extent of an injury is not an option; rather, it’s appropriate to observe the wound and understand how to act in the following minutes, address the ongoing trauma as soon as possible, and subsequently clean and close a wound correctly, initiating the healing phase.

 

 

Before starting, wash your hands thoroughly. Hands are normally full of germs, bacteria, and dirt. It is necessary, therefore, to take the right time to wash them, reaching slightly above the wrists. If you are about to take care of someone else’s wounds and not your own, wear disposable gloves to prevent the transmission of any infections or bacteria that travel through blood.

 

 

Understand the severity of the wound. If the wound is bleeding, it’s much more important to understand where this blood is coming from, rather than quantifying how much is being lost. Some superficial cuts can bleed a lot but be practically harmless, while if we’re talking about cutting veins or arteries, the situation is serious and needs to be resolved very quickly with trained medical personnel.

 

 

Assess if there are signs of shock. Are you or the person you’re assisting showing signs of shock, confusion, or loss of consciousness? This is another measure to understand how serious the sustained injury is. Always check for:
• any loss of consciousness;
• feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness;
• difficulty standing;
• feeling in a confused or less alert state.

 

 

How to treat minor injuries

 

We repeat it again because it can never be said enough: wash your hands thoroughly before starting to inspect the wound – and wear gloves if the wound in question is not your own.

 

Stop the bleeding. For 5/10 minutes, apply light pressure with a sterile gauze or a perfectly clean cloth. If the wound bleeds through the fabric, add more layers. Raise the area of the wound to slow down the flow of bleeding.

 

Clean the wound. Start by running water over the wound for a few minutes, then wash it with soap, but without applying soap directly to the wound. Proceed gently by spreading the soap around the wound, but never on it. Alternatively, you can use the PVS sterile saline solution. At this stage, avoid using hydrogen peroxide or cotton swabs as they may cause irritation.

 

Remove any debris. If you see debris or foreign bodies in the wound, clean tweezers with alcohol and use them to remove dirt, pieces of glass, or anything else you see. This step should be done after cleaning the wound with soap and water. If there are large debris in the wound, consult an emergency room immediately and do not remove anything.

 

Dry gently. Use a dry cloth or gauze and gently dry the skin. Don’t use cotton wool: some fibers could get stuck in the wound.

 

Protect the wound. It’s time to protect the wound from external agents, impacts, or scratches. Apply a plaster or sterile gauze to the wound, carefully secured to the skin with medical adhesive tape. Replace the dressing at least once a day, if it gets wet, or if it becomes dirty.

 

 

When to consult a doctor or the emergency room?

 

There are cases where, despite proper treatment, you need to go to the emergency room as soon as possible. Do so if: • the wound is very deep and visibly open; • the wound was caused by a pointed object; • there is suspicion of a broken bone; • the wound is impossible to clean or there is an object too large inside it; • the wound is on the face – especially if close to the eyes; • the wound was caused by a bite; • the wound does not heal even after weeks of care; • the wounds were caused by contact with metal or rust and if you are not covered by a tetanus vaccine done in the last 5 years.

 

 

In the next article, we will discuss how to perfectly apply a plaster or gauze – from choosing the size of the protection to fixing it, including securing the wound.

 

 

For more information and to learn more about our wound care products, contact the PVS team by clicking here.