- Open wound: an injury that is exposed due to broken skin, and is at high risk for infection.
- Puncture wound: an injury caused by a pointed object that pierces or penetrates the skin. Any puncture wound through tennis shoes (as with a nail) has a high risk of infection, because the foam in tennis shoes can harbor the bacteria Pseudomonas. Puncture wounds also carry a danger of tetanus.
- Pressure sore: a sore area of skin that develops when the blood supply to it is cut off for more than two to three hours due to pressure on it and lack of movement. As the skin dies, the pressure sore first appears as a red painful area, which in time turns purple. Left untreated, the skin can break open and become infected. A pressure sore can become deep (ulcerate) and extend into the underlying muscle. Once a bed sore develops, it is often very slow to heal. Untreated pressure sores can become gangrenous or seriously infected.
Treatment of Wounds
Most wounds can be treated at home using ordinary first aid techniques (discussed below). Other wounds need professional attention. These wounds may include, but are not limited to:- Gunshots, stabs, or puncture wounds
- Wounds ½ inch deep or ½ inch long
- Wounds around nerve tissue, particularly in the face, neck, hands, and fingers
- Wounds resulting from tears to tissue surrounding a body orifice
- Wounds that do not stop bleeding within five minutes
- Wounds from animal bites
- Wounds from nails, or wounds obtained outside (such as a puncture wound obtained through a shoe while walking)
Tetanus
Puncture wounds may be at risk for a disease called tetanus. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, tetanus, commonly called lockjaw, is a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. Tetanus is caused by bacterium called “clostridium tetani” and it is contracted through a cut or wound that becomes contaminated with tetanus bacteria.The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases states that tetanus bacteria are present worldwide and are commonly found in soil, dust, and manure. Infection with tetanus causes severe muscle spasms, leading to "locking" of the jaw so the patient cannot open his/her mouth or swallow, and may even lead to death by suffocation. Tetanus is not transmitted from person to person.
If you obtain any puncture wound that is deep, or is obtained while outside, consult with your doctor to be sure you are not at risk for tetanus. Ensuring that you are up-to-date on all immunizations, such as a tetanus shot, will help minimize your risk of infection.
Treating a Wound - First Aid
There are six main steps for treating a small wound, or a wound that does not require a doctor’s attention:- Put on rubber gloves (if applicable)
- Stop the bleeding
- Clean the wound
- Apply an antibiotic
- Dress the wound
- Check for infections
1. Put on Rubber Gloves
If you are treating a person with a communicable or infectious disease, pull on a pair of rubber gloves.2. Stop the Bleeding
Before you clean or dress the wound, you need to stop the bleeding.Light Pressure
Most wounds stop bleeding with light pressure. Cover the wound with sterile gauze or a clean cloth and then apply gentle pressure with the palm of your hand. The cloth absorbs the blood and will promote clotting. If blood soaks through, don’t disturb the cloth. Apply a second cloth on top of the first.
Elevation
If the wound is on an arm or leg that doesn’t appear to be broken, applying light pressure and elevating the body part to a height above the person’s heart will allow gravity to slow the blood flow.
Arterial Pressure
Applying pressure to the major artery supplying blood to the wound should slow bleeding. In the upper arm, apply pressure to the brachial artery which runs along the bone in the arm. In the leg, apply pressure to the femoral artery by pressing on the inner crease of the groin against the pelvic bone.
Tourniquets
Use a tourniquet if the bleeding can’t be stopped by any of the other methods. A tourniquet is a strip or band of cloth tightly tied above the wound to cut off circulation. However, reducing circulation also reduces the flow of oxygen to the body part and may damage the limb.
If you are unable to stop or slow the bleeding, the wound may be deeper than you originally thought, or more severe. Please contact a health care professional immediately.
