When performing wound care in the home, the first order of business is to act quickly. With prompt and proper care, however, many times you can avoid costly trips to medical facilities by treating the wound yourself.
Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to present four ways to provide great wound care in the home.
- Wash Your Hands and Wash the Wound
Your goal should be to eliminate all foreign substances from the wound. So be sure to not add any by washing your hands before doing anything else.
Once you sterilize your hands, use mild soap and water to rinse and wash the wound from debris. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t recommended for deep wounds because it can get into the bloodstream and cause complications.
- Keep the Wound Clean
Dress the wound in order to keep it clean. You can apply a layer of petroleum jelly (an antibiotic cream like Neosporin isn’t always necessary) to keep dirt and air out of the wound.
- Change the Dressings
Leaving the wound uncovered can dry it out, which can kill surface cells and slow down healing. It’s recommended to keep the wound covered (and change the dressings daily) for five days after the wound occurs.
- Look into Pain Relief Options
If there is pain associated with the wound, an ointment with a pain reliever can be used, along with a more natural remedy like aloe vera.
Remember, if you cannot stop the wound from bleeding, or at any point, it appears as if an infection may be present (foul odor, discharge, pain/redness, etc.), please have the wound checked out by a doctor.
To learn more about Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/schenectady_center/.
