Wound first aid: What you need to know

Posted by Specialist Doctor I Trinh Ngoc Duy - Emergency Doctor - Emergency Department - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Small, open wounds that don't bleed a lot are usually not life-threatening. However, if some deep wounds occur in dangerous organs or locations, there is a risk of infection, shock, and even death. Therefore, first aid is very important and urgent.

Initial wound care can help wounds heal faster and prevent infection. There are two types of wounds: closed wounds and open wounds.
1.1. Closed wounds Closed wounds are usually caused by direct trauma such as a fall or being struck by something. On a closed wound, the skin is not scratched, but the underlying tissue or blood vessels are damaged, causing bleeding under the skin, swelling.
1.2. Open Wounds An open wound occurs when the skin is broken by an impact or some object. There are several types of open wounds as follows:
Scratches:
In the top layer of skin rubbing against another surface such as the ground or road. Leads to minor bleeding and scab formation within 24 hours if no infection is present. Cuts:
Clean, min wounds caused by sharp objects. Deep cuts can cause severe bleeding. Tear:
Tears are often caused by blunt objects and are often jagged and uneven.
Stab:
The stab wound is deep and the wound is deeper than its width.
Bullet wounds:
Bullet wounds caused by bullets penetrating the body. The input wound may be small and round.

3. Wound first aid steps The first aid steps for bleeding wounds are as follows:
3.1. Assessment Assess the scene to make sure it is safe Assess the patient's condition Assess the type and severity of the wound. 3.2. Serious Wounds Plan: call for help immediately and transport victim to medical facility. With small wounds such as scratches, small cuts: you can give first aid on the spot as instructed below. However, it is still advisable to go to a medical facility for examination and treatment 3.3. Perform First Aid to clean small wounds and scratches:

First aid for closed wounds:
Apply cold compresses to the wound every 15-20 minutes, every 2 hours, 1 time First aid for cuts:
Stop bleeding by pressing directly on the wound for 3-5 minutes Follow the cleaning step above wound First aid for amputation (if limb is completely amputated):

First aid for lacerations
First aid for lacerations as well as first aid for open wounds. Accordingly, for small tears, do the following:
Clean the wound with soap under running water Remove dirt and debris from the wound If bleeding, follow first aid steps to stop bleeding (direct pressure). Continue to apply on the wound for 3-5 minutes to stop bleeding) Apply antibiotic ointment For large cuts, it is necessary to stop bleeding, clean the wound, cover it with a bandage and transfer the patient to a medical facility.
First aid for puncture wounds
Pierced wounds require immediate hemostasis. By covering the wound with a clean cloth and getting medical attention immediately. Piercing objects should not be pulled out at the scene.

First aid for gunshot wounds
Perform hemostasis Clean the wound Cover with a clean bandage Go to the hospital immediately
3.4. Reevaluate The helper should remain with the casualty until an ambulance arrives or transport the casualty to the hospital. Regularly review the patient's condition and evaluate the effectiveness of first aid so that necessary interventions can be implemented when necessary.
The Emergency Department of Vinmec International General Hospital operates 24/24 on all days of the week, including Saturday and Sunday as well as holidays of the year. The team of emergency doctors and nurses at the Department are professionally and thoroughly trained, able to receive and handle urgent cases of patients, and always coordinate with all specialties in a timely manner. fast.
With modern equipment and a team of experienced doctors, the Emergency Department has conducted emergency and saved the lives of serious and complicated patients. At the same time, patients at the Emergency Department are always coordinated care by many other specialized specialties (Team Base Care). Therefore, at the Emergency Department, patients will be examined, diagnosed, accurately and quickly, with high reliability and intensive treatment right from the emergency stage to help them quickly get out of the critical stage. dramatic and stable.