Wound Care In Kailua Kona, HI
If you’ve recently been injured and have a wound, it’s important that you understand how to care for it properly. Caring for a wound is incredibly important because it can help prevent infections from occurring and causing more serious issues in your body. You should talk to your doctor after being injured to first examine the wound and then find out how it should be treated and cared for.
Wound Care Treatment
Nearly everyone deals with an open wound at some point in life and most are easily treated. However, when you’re dealing with a more severe wound, it’s important to be informed and to understand the basics about caring for a wound. There are different types of wounds and they’re usually identified by what caused the wound. The four types are:
- Abrasion- This happens when your skin rubs or scrapes against a hard surface. The most common form of abrasion is road rash. An abrasion doesn’t usually bleed much but needs to be properly cleaned to prevent infections.
- Laceration- This is a deep cut or tears in the skin. If a laceration is deep, this can cause rapid and extensive bleeding.
- Puncture- This is a small hole that is caused by a pointy object, like a nail or needle.
- Avulsion- This is when the skin and tissue are partially or completely torn away. This is the most severe form of the wound and should be treated immediately.
When caring for a wound, you should be sure to wash and disinfect the wound, being sure that all dirt and debris is removed. You should use direct pressure and elevation to help control the bleeding and prevent any swelling. Always use a sterile dressing or bandage to wrap your wound and keep it clean and dry for at least five days.
If you experience any pain, you can take acetaminophen as directed. Applying ice can help with any bruising or swelling and it’s important to never pick at any scabs.