Nurse practitioner Evan Minior, CNP, explains the best way to care for wounds at home, and when you should seek medical help. How to clean a wound or cut Wash the wound It is a non-buffered hypotonic solution with an osmolarity (concentration of solute particles per litre in a solution) of 0 osmol/L; this may result in cellular oedema and rupture.

Pour or squeeze the saline solution into the left nostril (the solution should pour out your right nostril). Clean at least 1 inch beyond the end of the new dressing or 2 inches beyond the wound margins if you aren’t applying a dressing.Leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible. See the APP brochure Preparing for Medical and Dental Procedures for more information. Before use, spray a short stream of Wound Wash Saline Spray™ in the air or on intact skin to test stream and to clear nozzle.

After you have finished cleaning the wound, dispose of the waste in a trash bag; then remove and discard your gloves and any other PPE you used. Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound sealant bandage. These are available at most drugstores and work best for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements. However, you might need to apply pressure to the area, and if an arm or leg is affected, you should raise it above heart level if possible. Sodium hypochlorite 0.4–0.5% (Dakin solution) is indicated in pressure ulcers with necrotic wounds to help reduce and control infection. Study Selection: Studies in any language were eligible for inclusion if they were randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials of human subjects that compared the use of water (tap, cooled, boiled, or distilled) with normal sterile saline or any other solution specifically for wound cleansing in subjects of all ages with any wound in any setting. Wound cleansing was defined as “the use of fluids to remove loosely adherent debris and necrotic tissue from the wound surface.”It is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other Gram-negative bacteria. It’s important to note that saline solution should not be used to clean wounds that are deep, bleeding heavily, or have debris that cannot be removed with gentle wiping. In these cases, seek medical attention immediately. Tips from Nao Medical Give your doctor a call doctor as soon as possible if your symptoms worsen, too. This may include worsening pain, new or worsening redness or discharge or fever. Drinking water is an acceptable alternative when sterile water and normal saline are not available. Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry

Saline solution is a mixture of salt and water that is used for a variety of medical purposes, including wound care. It is a sterile solution that is safe for use on the skin and in the body. Saline solution is available in different concentrations, but for wound care, a 0.9% concentration is typically used. Why is Saline Solution the Best Way to Clean Wounds?Gurunluoglu R. Experiences with waterjet hydrosurgery system in wound debridement. World J Emerg Surg. 2007 May 2. 2:10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text]. De Luna V, Mancini F, De Maio F, Bernardi G, Ippolito E, Caterini R. Intraoperative Disinfection by Pulse Irrigation with Povidone-Iodine Solution in Spine Surgery. Adv Orthop. 2017. 2017:7218918. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Octenidine solution is used for superficial skin wounds and should be avoided in wounds near the sinus tracts. Chisholm CD, Cordell WH, Rogers K, Woods JR. Comparison of a new pressurized saline canister versus syringe irrigation for laceration cleansing in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 1992 Nov. 21(11):1364-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

You can also use distilled water for the ultimate sterile (and longer-lasting) saline solution. You can find distilled water at most drug or grocery stores. This method is the easiest by far. Remove the bandage or dressing at least once a day to cleanse the wound. Once the wound has been irrigated and cleaned, apply a new bandage. Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long term wound care.It is important to change the bandage or dressing regularly and to keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. How Nao Medical Can Help with Wound Care Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have a professional piercer remove it) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain. Please read Warning before using. USE ONLY AS DIRECTED, IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST SEE YOUR DOCTOR/HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. Kosier B. Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc; 2000. Gather everything you need and make sure the casualty is comfortable and that you can easily access the area that needs to be treated. Take your time while you treat the person. Here are our steps on how to wash an open wound: