How To Clean And Care For A Wound | First-Aid Training

As a first aid instructor for over 25 years, one of the things I share with all my classes is that in an emergency, your actions should make things better, not worse. Wound care and treatment is one of those areas where we see a lot of mistakes made.

So first off, as with any wound, make sure any bleeding has been controlled by applying direct pressure with clean dressings. Next, clean the wound with soap and water. Take a clean wash cloth or gauze dressing and get it wet and soapy and then gently scrub the area around the wound allowing the soap and water to flow into the wound. You can wash the abrasion or wound, just be careful to scrub gently to avoid damaging any tissue.

Now normally, water by itself would just run off the wound leaving a lot of bad stuff behind. When you add soap to the water it breaks down the surface tension of the water allowing the water to get in there and flush out all the debris, dirt and germs.

Now about the things we used to use on wounds and cuts and scrapes.

Starting with Hydrogen Peroxide, which is a staple in most homes medicine cabinet. We now know this antiseptic actually does more harm than good. Because it is an oxidizer it damages tissue and capillaries, thus slowing down the healing process.

Alcohol is also something is also commonly found in most commercial first aid kits, yet it also damages and burn tissue and is painful. In the form of wipes, alcohol is normally used in the cleaning of skin before a needle stick by a doctor or paramedic. It should NEVER be used on injured tissue.

Of course iodine, betadine should also not be used for wound care.

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Wayne Bennett is retired firefighter with over 33 years of experience in the emergency business. American Heart Association instructor, National Safety Council and FEMA CERT (community emergency response training) instructor.

We have trained over 120,000 persons how to #survive in our workshops.

[ManuelHernandez-tpgh]

Great, everything he said not to do I already did. Should have watched video first.

[elizabethkaseroff]

Love this. Finally someone my husband will listen to. 1 My husband has been having problems with leg sores from neuropathy due to diabetes. I haven't, until now, been able to make of a believer of him. He uses all the things you said not too. I didn't exactly know the reason why he shouldn't except that you could literally see the good skin coming off everytime he went to clean around his wounds. I'm honestly afraid he's going to end up causing infections that will lead to losing a limb. It's awful. He thinks cleaning that skin away is good. I'm trying to track him better. You've been a God send. Thank you!!

[CornishCreamtea]

When my sister came back from sheep shearing, she had a lot of cuts on her leg where the sheep had kicked her, after she had showered, we applied Iodine onto the cuts with a piece of kitchen roll. And it all worked out without any problems.

[AkonAcorn]

Literally just used the things he just said not to use on a wound before watching this video.

[mikethompson]

Lol, growing up I refused to ever use any of those on my MANY wounds and was always fine. 90% of the time just used soap and water. Apparently I was ahead of the curve.

[sherrynan]

Good advice here…I over used antibiotic ointment leaving me with a serious allergy… 3 months of healing now. ❤

[skinnydee]

I've been using Iodine for the past 68 years! I'm still use it today and haven't had ANY problems whatsoever. Sometimes I use New Skin and also Neosporin ointment.

[_papad]

I just watched another video that said to wash with a saline/salt water solution and then put medical grade menuka honey on the inside of the bandage. The presenters were physical therapists, many of whom (if not all) are required to take wound treatment training. They said that medical grade menuka honey is being used now for severe burns and even deep diabetic wounds, and so far, there have been no allergic reactions to the honey or germ resistance, like with antibiotics. I think I'll give it a try.

[scottbaker]

I had 3 perfectly straight and close together cuts on my arm all seeping blood and they've been a real problem! Thanks for the help!

[Hippy]

Man, I did these mistakes. Sprayed alcohol many times a day, vs whenever I remember. 2 weeks already my wound still not healing, look worst everytime I sprayed alcohol and apply Neosporin. The first week of injury the wound seemed to get better, then the more I sprayed alcohol and reapply cream It looks really bad. I almost have to call my doctor for a prescription..
Thank you, I will try your method with only water and soap and no band.
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[markjonathanprepena]

I went inline skating with my friends, there was a car ahead of us so I brake, while my friends don't know how to brake inline skates, they pushed me accidentally and I fell down and have wounds on both knees and one on my right elbow. I go home, didn't tell my dad cause you all know what will happen if I told them, after that, went into our bathroom, wash it with water and soap and I dry it off with a smooth dry clean towel. And I did that even if I've not watched the video yet, and my wound heals faster than the other wound that I put some alcohol first. Then I watched this video, I'm surprised that I did it correctly, except for putting the Neosporin thing because we don't have those things in our house. But at least now I know what to do when I have a wound again. Thanks!

[rhythm]

Thanks ..You saved me from a serious mistake ..

[esteloves]

That was educational for my two daughters and me. We were having a disagreement on how to clean a wound, so we looked up some videos about it. This one was the best. Turns out we all had something to learn!

[rickynaidoo]

I just got injured about a week ago. I will like to learn more about dressing a wound. I will start from watching this video.

[shawnbrooks]

Thanks, I’ve heard people say not to use hydrogen peroxide or only use it once initially. I personally know a few people who kept using peroxide and alcohol over and over on their wound (such as bad spider bite) and it made it much worse. Thanks for the great information! I personally use Defense soap with oatmeal as it’s listed as one of the best elsewhere online.

[elijk]

who else is here because you got a cut/wound?
just cut my pinky finger pretty deep, washed it with soap and water then applied antiseptic washer to the cut and then rinsed and dry, then applied Neosporin and covered with bandage. hope it works 🙏🤞

[bitzandpcs]

brilliant video, very informative. thanks for the great information

[pamelakelly]

Excellent video!!! Thanks for posting!!!!

[Gary]

Whats wrong w/ iodine. You quoted only 2/3

[Disastersurvivalskills]

If you washed it out thoroughly with soap and water you should be good for a minor cut, adding Betadine to a bandage will cause minor irritation to the skin but nothing serious.