after providing initial care which actions must you implement,Minor cuts and scrapes are usually not serious and can be treated with home remedies. However, some cuts are more likely to become infected. That’s why you should be more careful in these cases. If necessary, consult a doctor.
Prompt treatment of puncture wounds helps reduce the chance of infection and deep scarring.
A cut anywhere in the lower abdomen and chest can cause serious complications. Such a cut may injure the internal organs of the body and cause excessive bleeding. For this reason, if the lower abdomen and chest are cut and torn, the patient should be taken to the nearest hospital with first aid.
First aid for cuts and lacerations
Follow the steps below for first-aid treatment for cuts and bruises. —
1. Try to stop the bleeding
In any cut, first, try to stop the bleeding from the wound.
First, clean and disinfect your hands with soap and water or sanitizer. This reduces the chance of infection from hand to wound. Wear gloves, if possible.
If there is any cloth over the wound, remove it. However, if the cloth sticks to the wound or goes deep into the wound, do not try to pull it off.
Now, with a piece of clean, dry, thick cloth, hold the wound well for a few minutes. This should be held until the bleeding stops. Cloths with good absorbency should be chosen to stop bleeding. For example, gauze bandages, thick handkerchiefs, and towels. Cotton should not be used in this case. The lint in the cotton can get stuck in the wound.
Note that if there is an object stuck in the wound without removing it, direct pressure cannot be applied to the wound. Do not apply direct pressure to the eye.
The affected part should be moved as little as possible. If possible, the patient should lie down.
In the case of a cut anywhere on the hand, the wound should be elevated (higher than the head). If the leg is cut, the leg should be elevated (higher than the heart). This will reduce blood circulation to the affected area and reduce bleeding.
2. Clean the wound
Follow the steps below to clean the cut after the wound stops bleeding-
- First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or sanitizer.
- The cut should be washed thoroughly with clean water for 5–10 minutes.
- Clean the area around the wound with soap and water. But care should be taken not to get soap inside the wound. Apart from this, there is no need to use any antiseptics.
If sharp and sharp objects enter and are cut, it should be carefully observed whether anything has entered the wound or not. If something like this is found, then the patient should be taken to the hospital or doctor without being taken out.
Nothing can be seen inside the cut, but it is important to go to the doctor even if you cannot find all the things that caused the cut.
Do not poke the wound in any way.
3. Wound dressing
Wrapping the wound with a dressing after cleaning will help prevent infection from dust and pathogens.
The wound should be gently patted dry with a clean cloth.
Then an ‘adhesive bandage’, i.e., a bandage that completely covers the wound and sticks around it automatically, should be applied. These are available at pharmacies under different names, including Sargin Pads and Sargin Pores.
If such a bandage is not available at hand, the wound should be bandaged with a sterile gauze bandage.
Both types of bandages should be slightly larger than the size of the wound.
Care should be taken not to touch the part of the bandage directly above the wound.
Rules for bandaging: Wrap the short end of the bandage once around the amputated limb and the dressing pad. Wrap the other end around the hand so that the entire pad is covered. Bring the two ends together and tie them over the pad. Tie it in such a way that the area is under light pressure and the knot of the bandage does not come loose.
4. Change the dressing regularly
The dressing should be changed regularly as needed. The dressing should be changed when wet or soiled. Wrap the dressing with something waterproof (e.g., plastic or polythene) before bathing to keep the dressing water-free.
After a few days, when the wound heals, you can remove the dressing. Note: If the dressing is wet with blood, do not remove it, but put another dressing on top of the wound. If the bleeding does not stop, go to the nearest hospital immediately.
5. Taking painkillers
If there is pain in the wound, painkillers can be taken. E.g., paracetamol and ibuprofen.
If the bleeding is profuse, take the patient to the nearest hospital immediately.
When the doctor goes to it
If the wound is likely to become infected, or if you think it has already become infected, see a doctor immediately.
The symptoms that will tell you that the wound has already become infected are:
- Swelling of the wound area
- Pus in or around the wound
- Discharge of fluid from the wound
- The wound is red and warm.
- Increase the pain in the wound.
- Swelling of the glands under the nose, neck, armpit, or groin
feeling sick - Fever or body temperature greater than 100.4°F (38°C).
What not to do
- Don’t assume the wound is sterile, even if it looks clean to the naked eye.
- Be sure to clean the wound thoroughly.
- Do not blow on the wound.
- If the wound is deep, do not try to clean it after the bleeding has stopped.
- Go to the hospital for proper treatment of deep wounds.
- Don’t try to pull out anything that gets deep into the wound.
- Do not try to remove or apply pressure to the wound if a large object is lodged in it. Go to the doctor instead.
Symptoms that require urgent treatment:
- If the wound is very large or deep,
- If the wound does not stop bleeding,
- If there is persistent numbness in the wound area,
- It is difficult to move any part of the body.
- If there is a serious cut anywhere on the face, Prompt treatment is necessary to avoid further scarring.
- If you see a cut on the palm of your hand, you think you have an infection.
- A cut with a thorn or a rusty object (e.g., a nail, a stick) or a fleshy wound
- If the artery is cut and the blood flows through the fin, This blood is bright red. Usually, this type of bleeding is difficult to stop with first aid.
Apart from this, if you have not taken all the tetanus or scurvy vaccinations, you should consult a doctor immediately.
In the hospital, the wound will be thoroughly checked for a possible infection. The injured person may need to be vaccinated to prevent tetanus infection at the wound site. Stitches or special glue may be needed to close the wound before dressing.
The wound is usually not closed if there is a possibility of infection. In this case, the wound is specially dressed.
Complications of cutting and tearing
Sometimes various complications can arise from cuts and tears. For example: infection spreading in the blood; decomposition; amputation; loss of ability to work on the wound; nerve or organ damage.
Various physical conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, vascular disease) may reduce blood flow to the wound site. In these cases, the wound may take longer to heal than usual. If it seems that the wound is not healing after a long time, consult a doctor.
Vaccination to prevent complications
In some cases, the doctor may recommend a tetanus vaccination. especially if—
- The injured person does not complete a course of tetanus vaccination.
- or has not received any tetanus vaccination in the past 5 years.
- And the wound is deep or appears to be infected.
The vaccine should be administered within 48 hours of injury. Depending on the type of lesion, another type of injection called ‘tetanus immunoglobulin’ may be required in addition to the tetanus vaccine.
Injuries from an animal (e.g., a dog or cat) bite may require vaccination against rabies.
Anyone of any age can get it if they haven’t been vaccinated against tetanus.
Precautions to prevent thorn-splitting
By following some precautions, the chances of cuts and tears can be reduced to a great extent. For example,
- Keep knives, scissors, sharp objects, and firearms out of reach of small children to ensure safety from cuts. Teach children their safe use at the right age.
- Wear proper clothing and safety equipment while playing sports.
- Make sure that the soles of the shoes worn are firm. The shoes should not tear or leak if the nails or eyes come into contact with any object.
- Wear adequate safety clothing and footwear before operating any heavy machinery.
- If a slippery substance falls on the floor, wipe it up quickly.
after providing initial care which actions must you implement:
After providing initial care, it’s essential to monitor the individual’s condition closely. Document the care provided and any changes observed in their health status. Communicate effectively with medical professionals, providing them with detailed information about the initial care given and the patient’s response. Ensure follow-up as directed by healthcare providers and continue to offer support and reassurance to the individual. Additionally, remain attentive to any new symptoms or changes that may require further attention or intervention, seeking additional medical assistance if necessary.
Written by Shreyshi Saha
Medical review done by Dr. Ima Islam
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