Persistent or increasing pain at the site of the wound
Fever over 101°F
Swelling or numbness at a point below the wound
Red streaks or lines running in directions away from the wound
Drainage or pus from the wound.
Disclaimer:
This medical
information is designed as an aid only for the
patients of
Drs. Concannon & Vitale.
It is not a substitute for a medical
exam and direct
advice from your physician.
MINOR SKIN WOUND CARE
- Bruises: Apply cold compresses to lessen the pain.
Call the
doctor for crushing injuries, very large bruises, or very painful
bruises.
- Cuts: Wash small cuts with water until clean, use
a
mild soap
only if necessary to adequately clean the area. Use direct
pressure
with a clean cloth, paper towel, or even an unused maxi-pad to stop
bleeding.
If only a superficial cut, apply antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin,
Mycitracin, Bacitracin, Bactroban, or store brands of these. Apply a
bandage
(that does not stick to the wound itself) as necessary. Keep the wound
clean and dry until good healing has taken place, the wound is no
longer
oozing, and is well scabbed over. For larger cuts that gape open, don't
close properly, or don't stop bleeding, go to a local urgent care
center
for stitches as soon as possible. For a wound with major bleeding, call
911.
- Scrapes: Flush the area with water to remove dirt
and
germs.
Use a mild soap only if necessary to remove grime. Apply
antibiotic
ointment and nonstick bandage as required.
- Splinters: Remove small splinters with tweezers,
then
wash
off and apply an antibiotic ointment. If you are unable to
completely
remove a deeper splinter, call us.
- Punctures: Wash the area thoroughly with soap and
water. Do
not attempt to remove large or deeply penetrated objects without
medical
assistance. Apply direct pressure to control bleeding. Be aware
that
sharp objects that poked through the sole of a sneaker into the foot
can
set up deep wound infection that may need medical attention.
- Burns: First, stop the source of burn by removing
your
child
from contact with hot water, hot object, or whatever. Run cool water
over
the burn area for several minutes until the pain stops. Do not
use
ice, and do not put any antibiotic cream, butter, or lotion onto the
burn
area as these can interfere with healing. Do not break any blisters
that
form at the burn site as intact blisters help protect the wound from
infection.
Large burns, deep burns, any electrical burns, or burns on the face,
hands,
or genitals all warrant a trip to the emergency room if not a call to
911.
- Stitches & Staples: If stitches or staples
were
required,
keep the wound clean and dry until they are removed. Cover the
wound
with a sterile dressing (Band-Aid, Telfa, etc.) as necessary, unless
the
cut in in the hair of the scalp.
- Other tips:
- If the wound is on the arm or leg, elevate the wound on a
pillow to
help
relieve swelling and soreness.
- A towel-wrapped cold-pak applied to the wound for 10 minutes
every few
hours for the first two days can help decrease pain and swelling. Do
not
apply directly to the skin as frostbite may occur.
- You may give Tylenol if necessary for discomfort.
- Make sure your child is up to date on tetanus
immunization.
Generally, all of our patients are fully vaccinated, including
a
tetanus shot
every five years or so. If you're not sure, call and ask.
- Check the wound of a child twice a day until healing has
occurred.
Clean
out obvious dirt and lint with a small amount of soap and water.
- Infected Wounds: Any sign of infection should be
brought to
our attention::
- Persistent or increasing pain at the site of the wound
- Fever over 101°F
- Swelling or numbness at a point below the wound
- Red streaks or lines running in directions away from the wound
- Drainage or pus from the wound.
Rev. 10/2005 WOUNDCARE.htm
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