How Are Your Wound Smarts?
Find out how much you know about taking care of wounds.
1. The first thing you should do when you get a wound is wash it with soap and water and then bandage it.
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You might also apply iodine or hydrogen peroxide to help prevent infection, though these can be irritating to wounds so talk with your doctor before use to make sure this is appropriate for your wound. But keep in mind that you should use antiseptics such as these only on a fresh wound. Soaking a wound with antiseptic every time you change your bandage kills white blood cells, which help wounds heal.
2. Bandages need to be changed every day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
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Changing your bandage every day can help prevent infection. When applying a bandage, be sure that it is not too tight, or it could cut off your circulation.
3. A wound generally heals most quickly when exposed to air.
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Leaving a wound uncovered can help it stay dry and heal. If the wound isn't in an area that will get dirty or be rubbed by clothing, you don't have to cover it.
4. When blood from a deep cut soaks through the bandage, you should take off the soaked bandage and put on a clean one.
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Do not remove a blood-soaked bandage. Instead, put a clean bandage over it, and apply more pressure to the wound. Call your health care provider if you have concerns about bleeding from a wound.
5. First aid cream, antiseptic, or butter can soothe a burn.
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First aid creams, antiseptics, and butter can seal in the heat from a burn, and they won't relieve the pain. If your burn is minor, hold it under cold water, then apply an antibiotic cream or ointment and put a dry, sterile bandage on it. Be sure to apply the bandage loosely. Covering your burn with a bandage can help keep air out and prevent infection. Keep an eye on the burn for signs of infection.
6. An object such as a piece of glass or metal should not be removed without professional help.
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Don't remove a foreign object from a wound. If you are wounded by an object such as a nail, have your doctor remove it.
7. Signs of an infected wound include swelling, redness, throbbing, pus, and fever.
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Any wound can become infected if you don't clean it or protect it properly. Infection can occur within 24 hours of the injury but can take three to four days to develop, so watch the wound closely.
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