First Aid Flashcards
Describe how to care for minor cuts
Apply pressure to stop the bleeding
Clean the wound with cool water
Remove any debris with tweezers
Gently was around the wound with soap and a washcloth
Cover with band-aid
Check daily for infections. Change dressings daily for first few days
When caring for a minor cut, what agents should be used to clean the wound? WHich agents should be avoided?
USe fresh, clean water
Do not use idoine, alocohol or hydrogen peroxide
How long does it take for a wound to heal? Symptom while wound is healing? Recommendation for dressings?
Wounds may take 2-4 weeks to heal
Patients frequently experience itching after their wounds have appeared to have healed
All wounds normally drain and therefore daily dressing changes are recommended
WHy is hydrogen peroxide not recommended for minor cut care?
Hydrogen peroxide can slow healing by dmaging healthy cells
Use mild soap and water instead
Is an anti-septic required for a minor cut? Examples?
NOOOOO
Rubbing alcohol
Iodine
Hydrogen Peroxide
Dettol Anti-septic
Describe the manufacturing label of Dettol? Is this our recommendation>
Can be used as a gentle antispetic wound cleansing and antiseptic skin cleansing
Not recommended for wounds
Describe the contect for use of rubbing alcohol?
Pre-injection –> YES
Post-injury –> NO
What is betadine? Uses?
Providone-iodine
Complex of iodine
Not for cuts or wounds; not needed for minor first aid
Pre-surgical –> FAir game as effective for killing bacteria
When caring for a minor cut, should one use a betadine spray directly into the wound?
No need to spray directly into the wound
Warm soapy water around the edges is good enough
Describe the overall concept of anti-septic use in caring for a minor wound
DO not need to use an anti-septic solution to prevent an infection
Avoid using an antispetic
Regarding polysporin, is there a difference in therapy efficacy between a cream and an ointment?
No difference between a cream and ointment
Is polysporin recommended for a clean wound?
Decent and clean wound, vast majority of references state that polysporin is not needed
Describe the antibiotic agents in polysporin
Gram Positive - Bacitran, Gramcidin
Gram Negative - Polymyxin
Describe the avilable polysporin agents?
When selecting a polysporin agent, what is the main considering factor for a pharamcist? Are certain agnets better than others?
Just want to have a gram positive and gram negative agent
Lidocaine–> Anasthetic
“One has a pain killer in it, one does not. Which do you want?”
Three ingredients is just as effective as two ingredients
IS polysporin kids any different than the other agents?
No - Exact same as Polysporin PAin Relief
How often should polysporin be dosed?
Directions state to apply 1-3 times a day
Just go with TID –> Unlikely to have resistance here
Is the polysporin band-aid a more effective agent?
No
Just a marketing strategy
Go for simple band-aid instead
Describe the decision process for whether a topical antibiotic is necessary?
1) Is one needed? Unlikely –> Go with vaseline
2) Cream or ointment - Do not care
3) Lidocaine needed or not –> Patients decision
Describe the rate of infection of topical antibiotic usage?
If wound is dirty assuming you have not washed things out –> 20-30% chance of infx
If wound is “clean” –> 1-5% of infection and alcohol, HP are not needed
Describe caring for a wound in regards to promoting healing and ineffective strategies
Promote Healing:
Small cuts and scrapes can be left uncovered but moisture is usally needed to help speed up the healing process
Do not apply a topical antibiotic (vaseline just as effective as antibiotic ointment for non-inf wounds)
Do not douse a minor wound with antispetics
Which is more useful: Vaseline or Topical Antibiotics
What is the risk?
Topical ointments with antibiotics in them do not prevent infections any better than vaseline
More expesnive and risk of dermatitis rxn and allergic rxn
Describe the best way to heal a minor cut? What is the benefit? Is a bandaid needed?
Moist healing is the way to go
Moist healing can help prevent scars
Moist healing promoted greater rate of revascularization leading to:
Less necrosis, faster healing, and better quality of healing
A bandaid on a wound is not better than off a wound - Do not require oxygen for wound healing
Describe the benefit of vaseline in minor cuts
Use vasleine to help the injured skin heal and keep the wound moist
Vaseline helps prevent the wound from drying out and froming a scab
Wounds that form scabs take longer to heal