There may be times in your life when you are called upon to administer wound care, and it is important that you know a few things, just in case that time actually does arrive.  Of course, you probably know that cleanliness is the first step, so as to avoid future infection.  There are several other tips for wound care that you can keep with you, and perhaps you can really help someone in his or her time of need.

First of all, the bleeding must be controlled.  This is best accomplished by putting pressure on the wound, however much that may hurt.  At this point, any absorbent material is okay, but it is best if you have the necessary wound care products when you begin wound care.  Your main objective is to stop the bleeding, however, and you can concentrate on cleaning and disinfecting later.

The next step is, of course, to clean the wound.  Depending on the size of the laceration, this can be quite painful for the injured, so be sure that they know to hold as still as possible.  Otherwise, there is the possibility that the bleeding could begin again.  It is best to use a mild soap and warm water when you clean the wound, but keep in mind that pure water may sting.  If you have the ability to use a saline solution, then that is the better choice.  Many people carry this and other wound care products in their first aid kits, just in case.

An antiseptic ointment should be applied next.  At this point, keeping the wound clean is a necessity, so try to use sterilized equipment to apply the ointment if you can.  If not, just avoid touching the wound if at all possible.  This is true when applying the bandages, as well.  If the cut is wide, apply butterfly bandages to hold the skin together as much as possible.  If it is a scrape, then be sure to cover it with a bandage that is large enough to avoid getting adhesive on the affected area.  Keeping an array of wound care products on hand could prevent time spent searching for the right size.

Remember that stitches may be necessary.  If you have closed the wound with butterfly bandages, then it is likely that wound will need sutures.  Keep the wound closed as well as possible as you travel to the emergency room or urgent care clinic.  You usually have about six hours to get to the emergency room before the wound will be too contaminated to stitch.