7 Wound Care Flashcards
List the five bandaging guidelines.
Use clean sterile dressings.
Check circulation below the injury before and after bandaging. If circulation is reduced then loosen the bandage.
If blood soaks through add another layer of bandaging.
If applying ointment, do so on the bandage.
Reserve several sterile bandages.
List the 4 key infection care guidelines.
Keep it clean
Keep it protected (but not fully closed)
Monitor for redness, swelling or discharge.
Seek medical care if signs appear.
6 signs of infection:
Heat/warmth Redness Pus Tenderness Swelling Nausea
3 steps to wound care:
Clean with syringe or other.
Apply antibiotic cream/ointment
Re-apply fresh dressing/bandage
When is an infection critical?
Fever and/or red streaks moving out from the site.
Outline the site and get medical attention.
Describe care for bruises.
Apply cold pack wrapped in cloth for up to 20 minutes, remove for 20-30, repeat.
Four types of cuts/scrapes:
Cut
Scrape
Skin flap
Puncture
4 steps to cut/scrape care:
Direct pressure to stop any bleeding
Clean with soap and clean water
Apply antibiotic cream and bandage
Change dressing at least once per day
Friction blister general care (3)
Clean
Apply adhesive pad
Bandage the pad in place
4 signs of friction blisters:
Redness
Hot spots
Tenderness and/or pain
Swollen area filled with water or blood
Blister care on a multi day hike (4):
Drain using sterilized needle
Remove loose skin
Wash area with soap/water
Apply hydrogel, donut and bandage in place
Impalement care principles (2)
Leave object in place
Stabilize object without putting pressure on it
Impalement special considerations (2)
It may be shortened.
It should only be removed in life threatening situations, then treated as a puncture wound.
Splinter care:
Remove with tweezers
Treat as a cut
2 fish hook removal methods:
- Press back of hook shank flat, quickly jerk out, treat as a cut.
- Manoeuver barbed tip forward and cut off. Pull out the rest and treat as a cut.
Nosebleed care steps (3)
Head forward, spit out blood
Pinch nostrils for 10-15 minutes
If unresponsive put in recovery position
Other nosebleed considerations:
Uncontrollable bleeding may be life threatening.
Remove objects if they are easily removed.
Care for knocked out tooth (3)
Bite down on cleaning dressing
Pick up tooth by crown and protect it (coconut water or whole milk or gauze or clean cloth with some saliva)
See dentist asap
4 principles for eye injury care:
Avoid touching the eye or putting pressure on it
Have person blink several times
Gently flush eye with running water
If still a problem seek medical attention
Treatment for chemical in the eye:
Gently flush for at least 15 minutes or until help arrives
Treatment for flash burned eye:
Cover eyes with cool wet cloth
Seek medical attention
Other tips for running water eye flushes (2)
Water bottle
Poke small hole in plastic bag of water
3 signs of ear injury:
Blood or fluid from the ear
Swelling
Difficulty hearing
When is an ear injury critical?
When it results from internal, head, neck or spinal injury.
Treating a critical ear injury: (4)
Drain any fluid
Gently apply sterile dressing
No pressure on ear
Seek medical attention
2 steps for object in the ear:
Tilt head to affected side and tap head
Gently pull object out if possible
Else, treat as impaled object and seek medical attention
Treatment for live insect in ear: (3)
Do not pull it out
Move to dark area
Pull back outer ear and shine flashlight
Treatment if insect doesn’t come out of ear: (3)
Flush with lukewarm water
If insect floats, gently remove it
Have person tilt head to drain water
Care for amputated body part (4)
Wrap severed part in damp clean cloth or gauze in sealable plastic bag.
Label with name, date and time
Keep part cool (no direct ice)
Send part to hospital with person
Care for partially amputated body part:
Put it back in place
Bandage
Treat as fracture
Treatment of an eviscerated organ (3)
Keep organ moist with clean water
Layer of plastic then thick dressing
Keep organ warm
4 signs of chest injury:
Deformity or swelling
Guarded shallow breathing
Bruising
Coughing up blood
4 steps to care for chest injury:
Rest and keep still
Apply direct pressure to bleeding (non occluding and replace if soaked and occluded)
Do not apply pressure if bleeding is minor
Give person something to hold against injury if not penetrating
3 levels of burns, and typical wilderness burns (3)
Superficial, Partial thickness, Full thickness
Sunburns, scalds, fire
Burn priority critical determination principle:
if more than 10% is partial or full, or if located in sensitive body areas.
3 principles for burn care:
Cool with water or clean cool compress gradually.
Clean area
Cover loosely with dry, sterile dressing
After care for burns (3)
Monitor site for infection
Seek medical attention (monitor for dehydration)
Treat for shock, dehydration and pain while waiting care.
Chemical burns critical care principles (3)
Put on PPE
Brush off dry powder
Flush with large amounts of cool water
3 steps to treat electrical burns:
Turn off electrical current
Keep person still
Look for entry and exit points to treat
