How to care wound at home?

Proper care of wound is important and you can do it at your home if you have proper knowlege about how to care of wound. 

If you care it properly then it heals soon and the chances of getting infection on wound is also decreased.

Wound

Wound care at home

A wound can develops after an injury, due to fall , deep cut by knife, by friction or it can develope in a person who is bedridden due to any illness and unable to move, in this situation these type of person can develops wound in the body part where body part remain contact with bed & bears pressure.  

Due to this pressure the blood flow to that area decreases  and tissues of that area becomes dead and the wond is develope.

Care of this type of wound is most important otherwise it spread very rapidly and cover the other part of body or may be go deep to the bones this type of wound is called pressure ulcer.

Care of wound at home

Step 1: Stop the bleeding

The first step in caring for any wound is to stop the bleeding. Apply firm pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage for at least 5-10 minutes until the bleeding has stopped. Elevating the affected area above the heart can also help to reduce bleeding.

Step 2: Clean the wound

Once the bleeding has stopped, the next step is to clean the wound. Gently rinse the wound with cool, clean water to remove any dirt or debris. You may also use mild soap to clean the wound, but be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid any residue. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean the wound, as these can damage healthy tissue and delay healing.

Step 3: Apply an antiseptic

After cleaning the wound, apply an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or iodine to help prevent infection. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product and avoid applying too much, as this can delay healing.

Step 4: Cover the wound

Cover the wound with a sterile bandage or gauze pad to keep it clean and prevent further injury. Change the bandage or dressing regularly, at least once a day or more often if it becomes wet or dirty. Be sure to wash your hands before changing the dressing to avoid introducing germs into the wound.

Step 5: Keep the wound moist

Keeping the wound moist can help promote healing and reduce scarring. Use a topical antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist and prevent it from drying out. Be sure to apply a thin layer and avoid using too much, as this can delay healing.

Step 6: Monitor the wound

It's important to monitor the wound for any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. In some cases, antibiotics may be necessary to treat the infection and prevent further complications.

Step 7: Rest and elevate the affected area

Resting and elevating the affected area can help reduce swelling and promote healing. If the wound is on your leg or foot, for example, elevate the affected area above the level of your heart as much as possible. This can help reduce swelling and improve circulation to the affected area.

Step 8: Practice good hygiene

Practicing good hygiene is essential when caring for wounds at home. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching the wound or surrounding area with dirty hands. Avoid sharing towels or other personal items that may introduce germs into the wound.

Step 9: Watch for signs of complications

While most wounds will heal on their own with proper care, it's important to watch for signs of complications. Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Prevention from developing wound or ulcers

• You can prevent from developing a wound or ulcers to your loved ones who are bedridden due to any reason like fracture, any disease etc. You need to ensure following things:-

• Preventing the friction in between  body or linen of bed for this you can use a sotf pillow where body bear pressure like under heals of feets, waist, shoulder area, back of head area.

• Also regularly change the position of bedridden person to maintain the flow of bood to the pressure bearing sides of body that reduces the chances of developing wound.

SMALL INJURY 

Small injury like a cut , injury by friction etc these type of wounds do not creats complication and healed itself in an expected time framwork if the person is not having any exiting health conditon like diabetes. 

Person with Diabetes should take extra care of small wound.

You not to make lot of efforts  for small injury you can apply an antiseptic lotion on  it & remain it claen it will healed within a few days.

Phases of Wound healing process

A wound goes through  many phases  during when it is healing, you should know these processes when you are doing care of the wound to know in which phase of the wound is.

Hemostasis

It is period of vsaoconstriction as an attempt to stop the bleeding it happens when any person gets injured.

Imflammatory phase

This phase starts immidiately after the injury  and last for 2 to 6 hours after injury. 

During this peroid chemical mediators will reach at the site of injury and increased the capillary  permeability and blood flows to site of injury to assit phagoctosis.( the action of killing foreign particle like bateria) Swelling, redness and pain in the injured part is common in this phase.

Proliferative phase

Formation of grannulation tissues, which is shows like pink to red miost tissue at the injured site.

Epithelial closure

During this phase contraction of wound and closure of epithelial gaps starts.

Maturarion phase

Strengthening and reorganization of collagen occurs during this phase. This process takes months to year. It takes 2 to 3 weeks to regain 50% of strength.

After all these phase wound or injury heals completely.

In summary, caring for wounds at home requires proper cleaning, bandaging, and monitoring for signs of infection. Keeping the wound moist and practicing good hygiene can also promote healing and reduce the risk of complications. If you have any concerns or the wound does not heal as expected, seek medical attention immediately. With proper care, most wounds will heal quickly and without complications.