FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I care for a burn wound?
Burn care often depends on the severity of the injury. Minor burns can be easily treated at home. Make sure you have a first aid kit and wound care supplies on hand, and follow these steps:
- Cool the burn. Run cool (not cold) water over the burned area or apply a cool, wet compress until the pain lessens.
- Remove rings or other tight items from the burned area quickly and gently before swelling sets in.
- If blisters form, don’t break them. Blisters protect against infection. When a blister breaks, clean the area with water. Consider applying a wound cleanser for added protection from infection.
- Once a burn is thoroughly cooled, apply wound care products including antibiotic ointment to prevent drying, stave off infection, and provide relief.
- Cover burns with sterile gauze bandages (not fluffy cotton) for protection. Wrap loosely to avoid putting pressure on the burned skin.
- If pain persists, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
How to care for an infected wound?
When wounds become infected with harmful bacteria, the body may not heal effectively on its own. Plus, some infections can spread to other parts of your body. Thus, getting prompt infected wound treatment is critical. Keep a first aid kit handy, then follow these steps:
- After rinsing with clean water, remove all dirt, gravel, glass, or other debris with tweezers.
- Clean the wound with a wound cleanser, a cost-effective rinsing solution that promotes wound healing and reduces infection.
- Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment, then allow the area to air-dry.
- Cover wounds with bandages or wound dressings.
- Change the dressing daily and also if it gets damp or dirty.
- Seek medical attention if you don’t see any signs of improvement over 1-2 days.
How do I dress a wound?
Wound dressing must be done correctly and safely to absorb wound drainage, prevent infection, speed up your body’s healing processes, and give sutures, stitches, and staples the time they need to heal. Once you have cleaned the area and applied wound care products, choose a dressing based on the size of your wound and apply it.
How to change a tracheostomy dressing?
Tracheostomy patients have an increased risk of infection, so you must be careful when changing a tracheostomy dressing. A tracheostomy dressing absorbs secretions and protects the surrounding area. Follow these steps to change the dressing:
- After cleaning your hands and putting on surgical gloves, remove the old dressing.
- Check the stoma for signs of infection, including pus-like discharge, localized pain, odor, abscess, cellulitis, or discoloration.
- If an infection is suspected, report it to your medical provider immediately.
- If any adhesive remains from the old dressing, apply adhesive remover.
- Clean the stoma and the surrounding skin with sterile 0.9% saline and let it dry.
- If indicated, apply skin barrier film and allow it to dry.
- Secure the tracheostomy tube and slide the dressing under each of the flanges.
- Reapply the tube fixation device.
What is wound debridement?
In a wound debridement procedure, your doctor removes dead or contaminated tissue from your wound. It differs from wound cleansing processes, which clear dirt, foreign material, or metabolic waste from wounds before wound dressings are applied. How wound debridement is completed depends on the severity of the injury and damage.
MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER
The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, charts, and any other material on this site, is intended for informational purposes only and does not take the place of medical guidance provided by your physician. No information on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified medical professional about your condition or circumstances before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.