Minor Wound Care

Wound Cleaning and Preventing Infection

All open wounds are contaminated to some degree. Tell the casualty to seek medical help if signs of infection appear later.

The mnemonic S.H.A.R.P. identifies the signs and symptoms of infection.

S – Swollen

H – Hot, feels warmer than the surrounding area

A – Aches, a dull pain

R – Red

P – Pus may leak from the wound

Cleaning a Wound

To reduce the risk of a wound becoming infected, it should be cleaned properly. Abrasions that have a lot of dirt on the surrounding skin can benefit from soap and water; however, anything deeper should be washed using only water. Adhere to the following to clean a wound:

• Wash your hands with soap and water and put on gloves if available.
• Do not cough or breathe directly over the wound.
• Fully expose the wound but don’t touch it.
• Allowing some bleeding can help flush contaminants out of the wound.
• Gently wash loose material from the surface of the wound.
• Wash and dry the surrounding skin with clean dressings, wiping away from the wound.
• Avoid washing materials from the wound into other nearby wounds.
• An antibiotic cream can be used on superficial wounds and abrasions.
• Cover the wound with a sterile dressing.

Tetanus

Any wound, including burns, may be contaminated by spores that cause tetanus, a potentially fatal bacterial disease characterized by muscle spasms. Tetanus is commonly referred to as “lockjaw.”

Deep wounds are at especially high risk of tetanus infection. Advise a casualty with this type of wound to get medical help as soon as they can. Symptoms may not appear immediately.