Care and treatment of exposed injuries (open injuries/wounds):

 ·         Stop the bleeding:

“SHOULD FOLLOW PRICER THERAPY”

Apply gentle pressure over the wound with a clean bandage for twenty to thirty minutes. Try to avoid checking frequently to see if the bleeding has stopped, as this may prevent the blood from clotting as needed.

·         Clean the wound:

Remove the causative object(s), wash the wound with clean water, and flush it with a sterile solution (with an irrigating syringe) to remove any bacteria or remaining debris. In some cases, a surgical debridement is necessary to remove the dead tissue and all of the foreign material that couldn‘t be removed during initial cleaning. Removing the debris from clothes, dirt, glass, bullets, metals or other sources can reduce the risk of infection and provide a clean environment that promotes the healing process.

·         Local antibiotic:

Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment (such as Betadine) on top of the wound to reduce the risk of infection.

·         Wound closing:

Wounds can be closed with stitches, staples, skin adhesive bands or sterile bandage wound dressings (for abrasions). Wound closing brings any separated tissue together and repairs any damaged organ(s) or tissue to promote the healing process. However, in cases of infected surgical wounds, the wound may be left open after surgery until the infection resolves. Closure of an infected wound can lead to more complications and failure to heal properly.

·         Dressing change:

Change the wound dressing at least once daily, particularly when it is wet from blood or drainage.

·         Tetanus dose:

This is especially important in cases of deep, dirty, contaminated wounds, or in those caused by human or animal bites.