Wound Care Guide
By: Palmer Bussey
Examples of each type of wound
Most common wounds
1. Abrasion- skin scraped against rough surface causing the top layer of skin to wear away
2. Laceration- the tissue is torn causing a wound with jagged edges
3. Incision- a wound with smooth edges
4. Puncture- an object pierces through the skin and could introduce tetanus bacillus to the bloodstream
5. Avulsion- skin is torn from the body resulting in major bleeding
How to care for wounds
Step 2: Control the bleeding.
This can be done by:
a. Applying direct pressure
-Put pressure on the wound with gauze. If blood comes through do not remove the gauze just add more.
b. Elevation
-Continue pressure while elevating above the heart to slow bleeding.
c. Pressure points.
-Apply pressure to an artery to decrease blood flow. The brachial artery in the upper arm or the femoral artery at the top of the thigh.
Sutures or no sutures?
Signs of wound infection
1. Pain
2. Heat
3. Redness
4. Swelling
5. Disordered function