Since wounds make up the majority of injuries to the body, treating them is kind of the basis of first aid for trauma. It is a very uncomplicated procedure, so it is the first thing to learn about first aid. Proper wound care prevents wound complications and reduces wound healing time by almost a factor of three.
To treat a wound you need gauze, absorbent cotton, bandages and some disinfectant. It goes without saying that wound dressing should be done with clean, washed hands if possible.
If the wound is bleeding very badly, you must first stop the bleeding. Then start dressing the wound. If there is no disinfectant solution available, as part of first aid, the wound should simply be covered with clean (sterile) gauze from above, then a layer of absorbent cotton should be placed and the entire wound tied with a bandage.
If any disinfectant is available – iodine tincture, hydrogen peroxide – then the skin around the wound is first wiped twice or three times with gauze or absorbent cotton moistened with a disinfectant solution. Such treatment is more effective in combating the penetration of bacteria into the wound from the surrounding skin.
In extreme cases, when neither gauze nor bandages are available, the superficial wound may be covered with a plastic bandage and then bandaged with a clean, unused handkerchief.
Abrasions are washed with hydrogen peroxide and bandaged. Wounds should not be rinsed with water, let alone alcohol or iodine tincture. The disinfectant solution entering the wound causes the damaged cells to die, thereby causing considerable pain.
No powders or ointments should be put on the wound and no absorbent cotton should be placed directly on it!
If any tissue protrudes from the wound – brain, intestines – it should be covered from above (without pressure) with clean gauze, but under no circumstances should it be pushed inwards.
With extensive limb wounds the wounded limb should be immobilized (a splint should be applied over the healthy surface of the limb).
Any relatively deep wound requires skilled surgical treatment. The caregiver must therefore ensure that the injured person is transported to a medical facility.
