What Are The Wound Dressing Catagories?
Wound Dressing falls into one or more of six categories. This classification relates a wound to its cause and its treatment and so forms a practical way of understanding this very common medical emergency.
An incision is a clean cut typical of knife or razor injuries. It may gape open to expose underlying tissues to a considerable depth, and may also bleed profusely.
Lacerations may look less spectacular than incisions but are often more dangerous. They result from a ragged tearing of the flesh which may not always bleed profusely.
Tears on jagged metal and barbed wire are common causes. The danger here comes from the possibility of infection caused by bacteria introduced at the time of injury.
Puncture and missile wounds both involve the penetration of the body to a considerable depth by a more or less pointed object. A typical puncture wound is a stab.
This may seem small and may bleed little; but grave, sometimes fatal, damage can be caused to internal organs.
Missile wounds could be regarded as aggravated punctures. If a bullet is involved, there may be an extensive exit wound as well as the entry wound and serious internal damage.
Particularly with flying debris from an accident or explosion, the missile may remain in the body and require surgical removal.
In some ways, grazes are the most deceptive wounds. They involve damage to the skin by abrasion or friction and often appear superficial. Yet, because they result from contacts with an unhygienic surface like a road or wall, the risk of infection, including tetanus, is often high.
With contusions, the wound has occurred from a blow by a blunt object. This can often happen in a fall. Here, the tissues around and beneath the site of the wound have been damaged. Extensive bruising is common and internal injuries to bones and organs are often to be suspected.
Types of Wound Dressing
There are six types of wounds which are:
First Aid Wounds Dressing
Incised wounds usually need to be stitched. This should be done as soon as possible. If nothing is embedded in the cut, press a clean pad firmly over it to control bleeding and keep it higher than the heart.
Raise the arm or, if the wound is on a leg, raise the leg with the injured person lying down. If there is anything embedded in the wound, do not attempt to remove it.
Get the injured person to the nearest accident and emergency department as soon as possible. Meanwhile try to stem the bleeding by raising the injured area above the person’s heart, and applying very gentle pressure around the edges of the wound with a clean cloth.
If you can, protect the injured area by putting thick, clean padding around the injury so that the padding is higher
then the embedded object. Lightly cover the injured area with a sterile dressing. Lacerations also need medical attention. You should apply a thick wad of dressing around the wound, cover it with clean gauze and then bandage it.
All but a minor puncture and missile wounds should be seen by a doctor, as there may be internal damage. Call an ambulance to take the injured person to a hospital accident and emergency department as soon as possible. Cover the wound with a clean dressing and be prepared for the loss of consciousness.
Are The Wounds Dressing Dangerous?
Infection, internal bleeding, and injury, severe blood, loss, and shock are the principal dangers associated with wounds. In certain circumstances, any of these can result in death.
Complications like these can result from injuries that appear small at the surface, so always take wounds seriously. If you suspect infection or internal injury, see your doctor immediately.
Even short incision wounds may benefit from stitches to hold the flesh in place and speed up healing.
Ear, Nose, Eye and Mouth Wound Dressing
- Do not block or stop the blood flow from the ear.
- Cover the ear with a clean pad or sterile dressing, lightly held in place.
- Pinch the lower nose for 10 minutes, then release.
- Repeat until bleeding stops.
- Keep the casualty’s head bowed forward all the time.
- Do not attempt to remove any objects from the eye.
- Close, gently cover and bandage the injured eye.
- Also close, and if necessary bandage, the good eye to prevent movement in both.
- Keep the airway clear.
- Seat the casualty and bow the head forward and towards the side of the wound.
- Apply a clean dressing to the wound but if bleeding continues, carefully remove and replace it every 15 minutes.
- Seek specialist emergency care, in severe cases, especially with eye and ear injuries.