Wound Care & First Aid

Gauze is a fabric that has many different uses, medical gauze is specifically used in wound care. Gauze pads, bandage rolls, and other medical dressings all take advantage of the highly absorbent quality of gauze. It is a versatile product and can be used by itself or it can be saturated with petroleum like in Xeroform. When it comes to medical gauze you will have a lot of choices so it is best to ask your doctor for a recommendation. If you are using medical gauze to treat an open wound then you should make sure you are using a sterile gauze. It is important that wounds are kept clean and the best way to do that is to use sterile medical supplies. Switching from regular nitrile gloves and using [More]

Aquacel Dressing: Tips for Use

You will need to wash your hands with soap and water. This is to make sure your hands are clean and free of dirt and contaminants. The next step is to clean the wound with a wound cleanser. This is not the same as cleaning the wound with regular soap and water. A wound cleanser like CarraKlenz is specially designed to clean debris from the wound bed. CarraKlenz is a dermal wound cleanser and it promotes a moist wound environment which helps the healing process. [More]

Opsite is a brand of wound care products from Smith & Nephew. Opsite dressings provide a moist wound environment which promote healing but they also allow excess moisture to evaporate. Excess moisture can cause skin maceration. They are made from a transparent material that allows you to monitor the conditon of your wound which helps increase wear time. This flexible material is ideal for use on awkward areas of the body. There is also a grid printed on the film, which acts as a guide if you need to trim the dressing to a different size. Some Opsite bandages have a pad attached to the adhesive film to absorb exudate and act as a cushion over the wound. [More]

Where is the Sacrum Area of the Body?
The sacrum area of the body refers to the area just above what is commonly referred to as the "tailbone", this bony area is prone to pressure wounds. Anytime you have an area of the body with the underlying bones close to the surface of the skin you run the risk of developing a pressure sore in that area. Heels, elbows, sacrum, tailbone, etc. Pressure sores are difficult to treat because in order for treatment to be successful the pressure on the area must be relieved. If the area in question is your tailbone, it is difficult to remove pressure because anytime you sit or lay on your back you are adding pressure to the area. If you are recovering from illness or if you are using a wheelchair due to a spinal injury you will be seated or laying down often. [More]

Silvasorb is a controlled-release antimicrobial silver hydrogel. What that means is that Silvasorb is a gel that spreads easily and continuously releases silver. Depending on the wound, Silvasorb will work for three days before bandages need to be replaced. The dressing should not remain in place for longer than 3 days. Always consult your doctor when it comes to the frequency of your bandage changes. Silvasorb works by a sustained release of silver which helps to heal chronic wounds and helps to reduce infection. When Silvasorb gel is used properly it helps to reduce the amount of infectious bacteria that is present in and immediately around the wound. The Silvasorb gel also helps to keep the wound moist which promotes an optimal wound healing environment. Silvasorb is a great choice for healing wounds because it is biocompatble, non-irritating, and it will not harm the tender and delicate new tissue, called "granulation tissue". [More]

What is a Compression Bandage Self Adherent Wrap?
A compression bandage wrap that is self adhering means the bandage sticks to itself. You will also see these types of compression wrap bandages called "cohesive bandages". So a cohesive bandage IS self adherent and when you wrap the bandage around, it will stick to itself without any fasteners or clips making Coban and CoFlex easy to use. 3M Coban and Andover CoFlex are both examples of brands of cohesive bandage wraps and they are available in different widths and colors. Another important quality to Coban and CoFlex is that the bandage wrap does not stick to other things, it won't leave any kind of adhesive behind so there is no sticky mess when you unwrap it. It is convenient to use a cohesive bandage because it is a sticky bandage that sticks to itself and nothing else. [More]

What is Xeroform?
Xeroform is a sterile wound dressing that is non-adherent, which means it won't stick to the wound so dressing changes are less painful and trauma to the wound is minimized. Xeroform is an occlusive dressing which means it doesn't breathe and it is made of a absorbent fine mesh gauze. The gauze is impregnated with a 3% bismuth tribromophenate petroleum blend formula that provides bacteriostatic protection. Xeroform also deodorizes because it works to reduce wound odor. [More]

What is Witch Hazel?
Witch hazel is a type of plant, specifically it is a North American shrub called "Witch-hazel shrub or Hamamelis virginiana. The leaves as well as the bark of the shrub are used to make the compound referred to as "witch hazel" it is an astringent anti-inflammatory. Witch hazel is a simple and inexpensive item that has many different uses. It is a great addition to your home first aid supplies. Just like with any product, if you have concerns about whether or not you should use a new product always ask your doctor or your medical provider if it is right for you. [More]

What is Medical Tape?
Medical tape is an adhesive tape that is specifically designed to be used directly on skin to hold wound bandages or other first aid or medical appliances in place. Medical tape needs to be skin safe, easy to use, and strong enough to work well when skin is moving, bending, or damp. There are many styles of medical tape that can be used in a variety or situations. 3M has many different kinds of medical tape, here is the link to a more complete guide to 3M medical tape. [More]

Calmoseptine was created over 80 years ago by a pharmacist as a diaper rash ointment for infants. Since that time Calmoseptine has been found to help alleviate the symptoms of many different conditions. Calmoseptine is available in different size tubes as well as a jar but the contents are all the same, the different containers are just personal preference. It is a skin barrier ointment that is available over the counter, without a prescription, from online medical supply companies. A skin protectant or skin barrier ointment is a product that temporarily protects injured or exposed skin surfaces from harmful irritants while providing relief to the area in question. What is Calmoseptine? [More]

Coloplast Ostomy is known for making cutting edge ostomy pouch systems and ostomy care accessories. Coloplast has been around for a long time and they have designed some incredible ostomy pouches that help many people live their best life after having an ostomy surgery. What people don't realize is how versatile the Coloplast Brava line of medical products can be for people who don't have an ostomy. If you are currently using Coloplast catheters than you know that this company makes a wide variety of medical supplies. [More]

What is a Foam Dressing?
A foam dressing is "non-adherent" which means it doesn't stick to the wound bed, they are also non-linting so lint and debris aren't left in the wound when the dressing is removed. Foam dressings are generally semi-permeable to allow water vapor to reach the wound while keeping out bacteria, dirt, and contaminates. Foam dressings help maintain a moist environment which helps wounds heal and they also absorb excess wound exudate.The absorbent material found in foam dressings can be used with mild to high exudant wounds. [More]

I am not the biggest sports fan in the world but there is something about the Olympics that is riveting. The incredible levels of athletic skill, the world wide competition, it is awesome to watch. One of the aspects of it that is so interesting is the different techniques the athletes use to train and prepare. These men and women are so dedicated and they are willing to sacrifice so much in order to achieve their dreams. I have seen the articles talking about cupping, carefully planned diets, and many other training regimes. I noticed a lot of people asking about the colorful tape that different athletes competing in Rio have been wearing and I got super excited because for once I already knew what it was! It is Kinesio Tape! [More]

3M Tegaderm, can it help road rash? What is Road Rash? Road rash is when your skin is injured by coming into contact with road surfaces during falls and/or crashes. Abrasions, scrapes, broken skin, and having skin embedded with road debris are all symptoms of road rash. Generally road rash is associated with skateboarding, cycling, roller, and motorcycling accidents. How do you treat road rash? Examine the wound. When you look at the wound, do you see fatty deposits or bone? If the answer is yes, immediately seek emergency medical attention. If you think the cuts and abrasions might need stitches, go with caution and seek medical attention. [More]

First Aid kits are needed in every home and business. It is a simple thing to buy a pre-built first aid kit and call it a day. The first aid kits that are sold as a package are great for most situations. I think it is always nice to add a few items to them that fit you and your situation specifically. For instance, my son won't leave bandages alone so whenever possible I prefer to use the liquid bandage by 3M. It protects the cut or scrape allowing it to heal but my son can't peel it off. 3M Nexcare doesn't seem to come standard in a lot of first aid kits and that is a shame. Nexcare makes great products that are perfect for work and home. I am going to highlight some of the ones that I use often and have become standard in our personal first aid kits. [More]