Wound Care & First Aid

Wound Care Supplies

Purchase wound care supplies, such as gauze sponges, adhesive bandages, and medical tape, designed to safeguard against infection and promote speedy heal burns, ulcers, and abrasions. The basic steps of wound care include cleaning, bandaging, and monitoring your wound. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's wound care instructions to avoid infection and other complications.

How to Perform Proper Wound Care

Proper wound care is crucial for facilitating the healing process and preventing complications. One fundamental aspect is thorough wound cleaning, which involves gently removing debris, dirt, and bacteria from the affected area. Additionally, when dealing with a heavily secreting wound, it is essential to choose appropriate dressings, like calcium alginate or hydrocolloid dressings, that can effectively absorb and manage the excess fluid. Gauze dressings, known for their absorbent properties, are commonly used in such cases to promote a clean and dry wound environment. Learn more about these practices and how to incorporate them into your wound care routine to promote healthier healing processes and reduce the risk of infection.

Wound Cleaning

When it comes to wound care, cleansing the affected area is a crucial step before applying a bandage.

• Wound cleansers help prep a wound site by removing debris and disinfecting the area. These pH-balanced solutions also help keep the wound site moisturized. No rinsing is required after spraying the cleanser onto the skin.
• Antiseptic towelettes, such as BZK wipes, sterilize the skin and are a convenient alternative to liquid cleansers.
• Povidone-iodine prep pads also prevent infection by killing bacteria in cuts and burns. Both of these antiseptic wipes are alcohol-free, so they will not cause stinging.

Secreting Wound

If your wound is producing exudate, you may require the use of a wound gel before applying a dressing.

• Convatec Duoderm makes hydroactive gel and paste that are used in conjunction with a wound dressing to promote a moist environment that is ideal for healing. These formulas are designed to remove dead or infected tissue, while protecting newly formed tissue from any irritation.
• Alginate dressings are frequently used for wounds that generate a substantial amount of exudate. They prove beneficial for various conditions such as pressure ulcers, diabetic wounds, and partial thickness burns.

Express Medical Supply sells the hydroactive gel and paste in sterile, single-use tubes for hygienic purposes.

Gauze Dressings

After cleansing a wound, a dressing such as a Mepilex dressing should be applied. These types of dressing help protect the wound and absorb exudate.

• Tegaderm makes adhesive transparent dressings, which creates a waterproof barrier and allows you to monitor the condition of your wound.
• Non-adhesive dressings are kept in place with medical tape or a Coban wrap.
• Foam wound dressings are designed to pad the area and remove excess drainage, which reduces the risk of infection or further breakdown.
• Hydrofiber dressings transform liquid exudate into a gel and keep the wound from drying out during the healing process. These dressings also contain silver to quickly kill pathogens and draw out infection.

All dressings are designed to be easily removed without further damaging the healing wound.

Types of Wound Care Products in a First Aid Kit

A first aid kit contains supplies necessary to care for injuries such as cuts, burns, and other minor wounds. Common items found in prepackaged first-aid kits include:

• Adhesive or Elastic Bandages
• Sterile gauze rolls and pads
• Antiseptic wipes or wound cleanser
• Self-Adherent Foam Dressings
• Tweezers and scissors
• Instant cold packs
• Pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
• Antihistamines for allergic reactions
• Antibiotic ointment or cream

Express Medical Supply also carries individual items that allow you to make your own kit or add to an existing one. Please read our blog for ideas on items to add to a first-aid kit.

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