Wounds include cuts, scrapes, scratches and punctured skin. They often occur as a result of an accident or injury, but surgical incisions, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but even cuts and scrapes require care. To avoid infection and aid healing
- Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding
- Clean the wound with water
- Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
- Bandage the wound if it's in an area that might get dirty
- Watch for swelling and redness
- Get a tetanus booster if you are due for one
Serious and infected wounds require medical attention. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, if you cannot close it yourself, if you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or if it does not heal.
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Cuts, Scrapes and Stitches: Caring for Wounds(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/firstaid/after-injury/041.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/firstaid/after-injury/041.printerview.html
- Bacterial Wound Culture(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/wound_culture/test.html
- Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-cuts/FA00042/METHOD=print
- How to Change Wound Dressings(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/wound_care/hic_how_to_change_wound_dressings.aspx
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Incision Care(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/firstaid/after-injury/095.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/firstaid/after-injury/095.printerview.html
- Puncture Wounds: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-puncture-wounds/FA00014/METHOD=print
- Reconstructive Surgery: Procedures at a Glance(American Society of Plastic Surgeons) - http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/ReconstructiveSurgery.cfm
- Severe Bleeding: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-severe-bleeding/FA00038/METHOD=print
- Sutures(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/31785.html
- Honey: Can It Speed Wound Healing?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/honey/AN01796/METHOD=print
- Nutrition Guidelines to Improve Wound Healing(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/nutrition/hic_nutrition_guidelines_to_improve_wound_healing.aspx
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Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/woundcare.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/espanol/woundcare.asp
- Facts about Tetanus for Adults(National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://www.nfid.org/pdf/factsheets/tetanusadult.pdf
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JAMA Patient Page: Wound Infections(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/294/16/2122.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/294/16/2122/DC1/1
- Staph Wound Infections and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/staph.html
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Wound Care: Preventing Infection
(Amputee Coalition of America) - http://www.amputee-coalition.org/easyread/fact_sheets/woundcare-ez.html
- Wound Dressings and Other Accessory Products(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/wound_care/hic_wound_dressings_and_other_accessory_products.aspx
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Lacerations(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Lacerations%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Wounds and Injuries
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Wounds+and+Injuries%22
- Researchers Grow Human Blood Vessels in Mice from Adult Progenitor Cells(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=471
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Scientists Study Protein's Antibacterial Action in Wounds(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2007/wound_bacteria.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The effect of a quality improvement collaborative to improve antimicrobial... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18838727&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Developing a wound care compliance program (part 1). - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18836330&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Are prophylactic oral antibiotics indicated for the treatment of intraoral... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18819178&tool=MedlinePlus
- Wounds -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(wounds+and+injuries/therapy[majr:noexp]+OR+wounds,penetrating/therapy[majr]+OR+contusions/therapy[majr]+OR+lacerations/therapy[majr]+OR+self+mutilation/therapy[majr]+OR+wound+infection[majr])+NOT+needlestick+injuries[mh]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Nurse Referral Center(Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society) - http://www.wocncenter.com/public/member_directory.cfm
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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Bleeding(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/bleeding.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/bleeding_esp.html
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Checking Out Cuts, Scratches, and Abrasions(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/cuts.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/seguridad/cuts_esp.html
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How Stitches Help Kids Heal(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/stitches.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/seguridad/stitches_esp.html
- Lacerations with Stitches(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1216/mainpageS1216P0.html
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What's a Scab?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/scab.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/preguntas/scab_esp.html
- Bruises - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bruises.html
- Injuries - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuries.html
- Scars - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/scars.html
- Surgery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/surgery.html
- Injuries and Wounds - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuriesandwounds.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
Wounds - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/wounds.html