Are These 5 Common Wound Care Beliefs True or False?

It turns out that some of the things Mom may have told you about wound care may not be exactly correct. Properly caring for wounds keeps them clean and infection-free while speeding up the healing process. Read through these wound care beliefs and see if you can determine which is true or false.

• To prevent infection, clean wounds with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
  FALSE — These liquids are too irritating and may damage skin and wound the injured tissue further. Instead, use cool running water to rinse the wounded area for a full five minutes. Then gently wash with mild soap to clean away dirt and germs. If the wound is deep, covers a large area of the body, or bleeds excessively, get immediate medical treatment. Go to the emergency room if necessary.
• Let your wound air out so it will heal faster.
  FALSE — Instead, keep an injury bandaged so it will stay clean. Dirt and germs can cause infection, making the wound worse. Bandaging helps protect the wound from scrapes, which can interfere with and slow healing.
• Keep wounds moist through the entire healing process. TRUE — Continual moisture helps wounds heal faster and keeps bandages from attaching themselves to the wound. Keep the wounded area clean and apply antibiotic cream before bandaging. Keeping the area moist and clean also helps to prevent infection.
• Don’t put ice or butter on a burn. You can cause more harm than good.
  TRUE — Putting butter or ice on burns won’t help and it could lead to further damage. For a minor burn, hold under cool running water until pain decreases. Protect blistered skin by covering the area with sterile gauze bandages. Use nonstick wound dressing and wrap loosely.
• Pull bandages off quickly to lessen the pain.
  FALSE — Instead, go slowly and carefully so you don’t pull off scabs or reopen the wound. Pull in the direction of hair growth. If part of the bandage gets stuck to the injury, soak in warm water, which can make removal easier.

When you need wound care supplies, visit Mar-J Medical Supply online or call us to order.

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