In daily life, it is inevitable that we may bump and cause wounds. If the size and depth of the wound are not handled properly, it may lead to infection and suppuration in mild cases, and functional disorders in severe cases. So, how should we handle it safely?
A wound refers to the destruction of tissue integrity on the surface of the human body, or tissue defects such as skin. According to the length of healing time, wounds can be divided into acute wounds (such as abrasions, scratches, bruises, stabs, etc.) and chronic wounds (pressure ulcers, diabetes feet, lower limb vein ulcers, etc.). The skin is the first line of defense in the human body. When a wound appears on the skin, it is susceptible to bacterial invasion, infection, and inflammation, which can lead to suppuration, swelling, and pain, ultimately preventing the wound from healing.
Below is an introduction to the treatment of common surgical wounds:
1. Scratches
Mild epidermal abrasions. If the wound is clean, small, and shallow, apply iodine for disinfection and keep it naturally dry.
If the area of the abrasion is too large, there are sand particles or dirt on the wound that cannot be cleaned off by oneself, or the injured area is swollen, severely painful, the surrounding body tissue is broken, blood flow is not stopped, or the injured area is very important (such as the face), you can first rinse it with running tap water at home, then wrap it with a clean towel or other items to stop bleeding, and immediately seek medical attention. Go to the hospital to find a surgeon for local debridement treatment, and if necessary, suture the wound and inject tetanus needle antitoxin.
2. Skin laceration
Due to severe falls or collisions, the epidermis and dermis of the body are completely cracked, and the wound is uneven and irregular. This type of wound often causes a lot of bleeding and is generally not suitable for self treatment. However, first, cover the bleeding area of the wound with disinfectant gauze, clean handkerchiefs, towels, etc. and press to stop bleeding. Then wrap the wound with a bandage or long cloth strip to stop bleeding, and immediately send it to the hospital to find a surgeon for debridement and suturing treatment. Avoid using sand, tooth powder, flour, tobacco, and medicinal powder to sprinkle on the wound to stop bleeding.
3. Stabbing
If stabbed by sharp objects such as nails, needles, glass, etc., the wound is narrow and deep, resulting in less bleeding. Many people do not see it often, and the wound closes on its own, so they no longer seek medical attention. Little did they know, such wounds are difficult for bacteria to be expelled, and the probability of wound infection and tetanus is higher. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly. The treatment of wounds is to avoid squeezing the wound and to perform repeated debridement and wound expansion. In addition, try to check at the scene of injury to determine if there are any foreign objects remaining in the wound, creating conditions for medical treatment and shortening the diagnosis time.
4. Cut
A cut is an injury caused by a knife, scissors, glass shards, or sharp tools. Small superficial cuts can be cleaned, disinfected, bandaged, and stopped bleeding by themselves, and the wound should be disinfected regularly until it heals.
Larger and deeper wounds may bleed uncontrollably and even cause deep tendon and nerve rupture. Clean gauze should be used to compress the wound and bandage it to stop bleeding, and the patient should be immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. If necessary, the wound should be sutured, and even nerves, blood vessels, and tendons should be sutured.
5. When being hit or squeezed by a door, squeezed, or hard object such as a stone, pay attention to using cold compress. For such wounds, it often leads to local tissue compression and severe pain. It is necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In addition to treating the wound, serious combined injuries such as trunk and limb fractures should also be ruled out.
6. Bite by animals
After being bitten or scratched by dogs, cats, or other animals, do not squeeze the wound. Immediately rinse the wound thoroughly and wash it thoroughly at home with soapy water, water, detergent, etc. for at least 15 minutes. Then apply 2% -3% iodine or 75% alcohol to the wound to remove or kill the local virus. Seek medical attention promptly and receive rabies vaccine and rabies patient immunoglobulin. Use antibiotics and tetanus antitoxin as needed to control other infections.
7. Bite by mosquitoes
Most injuries caused by mosquito bites are generally not serious. After disinfecting the wound, apply dermatitis ointment externally to reduce swelling and itching, avoiding scratching the wound and causing infection.
Some patients may experience allergic reactions after being bitten by mosquitoes, such as rash, respiratory distress, palpitations, etc. They need to seek medical attention as soon as possible or call 120 for treatment.
8. Burns and scalds: The first principle for handling accidental burns and scalds is the five steps of flushing, removing, soaking, covering, and sending.
Rinse: Continuously rinse the wound with flowing water for 15-30 minutes to quickly reduce the surface heat of the skin. If the wound cannot be rinsed, continue with cold compress.
Peel off: After fully soaking, carefully remove the clothes. It is recommended to use scissors to cut open the clothes or temporarily keep a small amount of adhesive parts to avoid tearing off, which may break the water bubbles or even peel off large areas of the skin.
Soaking in cold water (with ice cubes) for 15-30 minutes can reduce pain and stabilize emotions. If the burn area is too large and the patient is too young to cooperate with soaking, there is no need to soak for too long to avoid excessive temperature drop or delay in treatment timing.
Cover: Cover the injured area with clean sheets or strips of cloth, gauze, etc. Avoid applying rice wine, soy sauce, toothpaste, paste, herbs, etc. to the injured area.
Send to the hospital as soon as possible for further treatment.
Summary: If you cannot handle it correctly at home, please come to the emergency department of the hospital in a timely manner and have professional medical staff help you handle it! After being treated by the hospital, the wound can be treated with some rehabilitation therapy in the later stage to promote early healing and reduce scar formation.