Handy Tips for supporting minor bumps, bruises and injuries
Do you often cut yourself while chopping vegetables, or are your kids adventurous and prone to grazed knees or elbows? While these types of injuries can be irritating and painful, fast first aid treatment will prevent infection or the injury failing to progress to the wound healing process.
Keep reading to find out how to treat different types of cuts, grazes, and gashes.
What Kind of Wound Is It?
Cut:
A cut is a puncture to an area of skin, resulting in a separation of the connective tissue. Cuts are usually caused by sharp objects such as knives or the edge of a piece of paper. Oftentimes with cuts, bleeding can occur instantly and may be extensive.
Gash:
A gash is a more severe cut that has caused deep-tissue penetration. In the event of a gash, you may require stitches to help the healing process and minimise scarring.
Graze:
A graze is an abrasion to the upper skin layer which occurs after falling on or scraping a rough surface. Grazes can be quite painful, because the injury extends to the nerve endings beneath the skin.
For a list of other wounds that you may come across at home, see here.
If you’re unsure about the severity of your open wound, contact your local Pharmacist for a quick and convenient assessment.
Seek Immediate Professional Attention or Call 000 If You Notice Any of the Following:
- Muscle or bone visibility
- Immobilised joints or muscles around the injury
- Debris that you can’t remove
- Excessive bleeding
- Numbness or tingling near the wound
How to Treat Different Types of Cuts, Grazes, and Gashes
- Wash your hands using antibacterial soap or sanitiser before treating any wound. Harmful bacteria can easily penetrate a break or tear in the skin and cause infection.
- Gently rinse the wound with clean saline or water. Clean a pair of tweezers with alcohol and use them to remove any fragments of dirt. Pat dry the surrounding skin with a clean gauze swab.
- Apply an antiseptic to the cleaned wound to help protect it from infection and assist in the healing process.
- Cover the cut, graze, or gash with a dressing to protect the injury from friction, bacteria, and contamination—creating a healthy environment for the wound to heal.
Is My Wound Infected?
If you are beginning to notice signs of infection—pus, swelling, redness, heat, pain, itching, or burning—contact a medical professional immediately. If your wound is infected, you’ll require specific medical treatment to remove the infection to ensure complete healing.
Supporting Your Injury During Healing
To help support your injury during the healing process, you may want to consider a bandage.
Bandages are an essential medical supply for any first aid kit. They allow for the effective provision of wound care for a variety of different injuries and facilitate the wound healing process. A number of bandages are available, with different types intended for specific purposes and for application to specific body parts.
What Are the Different Types of Bandages?
A number of bandages have been developed across a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials to treat a range of wounds and injuries.
Crepe Bandages
AeroCrepe crepe bandages are the most common type of medical bandage. They consist of a woven strip of absorbent material that can come in a variety of sizes.
Uses:
- Holding a dressing in place
- Medium injury support (e.g., joint immobilisation)
- Compression
Heavyweight Compression Bandages
AeroForm Heavyweight Bandages are typically used for the management of swelling. These bandages only allow for a modest range of stretch, providing high resistance against external movement and muscle contraction.
Uses:
- Lymphedema
- Edema (e.g., from a poisonous bite)
- Venous leg ulcers
Tubular Bandages
A tubular bandage, such as the AeroForm tubular bandage, is an elasticated gauze bandage woven in a continuous circle to provide uniform compression when applied to arms, legs, ankles, and wrists.
Uses:
- Immobilising joints
- Supporting joints during activity
- Holding dressings in place
- Reducing swelling
Cohesive Bandages
Cohesive bandages are a type of compression bandage made of self-adhesive material, allowing you to securely wrap injured areas without the need for bandage clips. AeroBan Cohesive Bandages have the unique ability to stick to themselves but not to the skin. Cohesive bandages also allow for free movement without bunching.
Uses:
- Stabilising joints
- Holding dressings in place
- Supporting soft tissue injuries
Your local IPA Pharmacy can easily and confidently recommend your best first aid treatment pathway to ensure optimal healing outcomes. Visit your local pharmacy today! Find yours here.