Emergency care of wounds

Cuts. If you sustain a small cut that bleeds only slightly, wash the cut thoroughly with mild soap and water. Apply a bandage to keep it clean. If the cut is more serious you must stop bleeding by applying pressure directly to the injury, using a sterilized gauze pad or clean cloth. Maintain pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops.

Stabs. A stab doesn’t usually result in excessive bleeding. Often little blood will flow and the wound will seem to close almost instantly. These features, however, do not mean that treatment is unnecessary. Stabs are dangerous because of the risk of infection. The object that caused the wound may carry spores of the tetanus or other bacteria. These can result in serious infections. If you sustain a stab, stop the bleeding, if necessary, by applying pressure with a sterilized gauze pad or clean cloth. Then seek emergency care for appropriate treatment to prevent tetanus or other infection.

Soft tissue injuries. These injuries may involve considerable bleeding. The skin is damaged, as are underlying tissues such as muscle, supporting structures, and blood vessels. Such injuries can occur when an area is struck and badly cut, when the skin is separated from the underlying tissues, or when areas of the skin are forcefully torn away. Soft tissue injuries require special treatment at the hospital or polyclinic.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-11