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May 20, 2013
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Wound Care (cont.)

Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Wound Treatment

Wound Self-Care at Home

  • Most wounds may be cared for at home. Superficial abrasions and lacerations can be cleaned, an antibacterial ointment applied, and then covered with a band-aid or light bandage.
  • Bleeding can often be controlled with direct pressure to the wound, and if possible, elevating the bleeding site above the level of the heart. This allows gravity to help decrease blood flow to the injury. Most bleeding will stop within 10 minutes, at which point, a dressing can be placed over the wound.
  • If bleeding is not an problem, the wound can be cleaned using tap water to wash out any debris to decrease the risk of infection. River and lake water can contain many types of bacteria that can cause significant infection. It is not recommended to clean wounds with contaminated water.
  • Deeper wounds are painful and scrubbing is not necessarily advised.
  • If a wound needs medical care, there are steps that can be taken at home to begin treatment. Unless there is a significant underlying injury, there is ample time to seek medical care and it is appropriate to take a few minutes to clean and dress the wound.

Must Read Articles Related to Wound Care

Cuts or Lacerations
Cuts or Lacerations A cut refers to a skin wound with separation of the connective tissue elements. Unlike an abrasion (a wound caused by friction or scraping), none of the skin is...learn more >>
Puncture Wound
Puncture Wound A puncture wound is caused by an object piercing the skin such as nails, glass, pins, or other sharp objects. A puncture wound can become infected if not treate...learn more >>
Removing Stitches
Removing Stitches Stitches or sutures are methods used to close wounds, cuts, lacerations, or surgical procedures. There are two types of sutures, absorbable and nonabsorbable. O...learn more >>
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Wound Care - Treatment

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Wound Care »

This article discusses the management of chronic wounds. This topic is naturally diverse and far-reaching.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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