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WOUNDS

© Kathleen Newton

All of us have had a wound at some point in our lives. Wounds can range from a minor scrape to a major avulsion requiring stitches, or even surgery.

There are several different types of wounds:

SCRAPES

The most common type of wound, a scrape occurs when the outer layer of skin is scraped off in some way. Scrapes are usually painful due to the exposure of nerve endings located just under the skin.

CUTS

Cuts are caused by sharp objects, or blunt object that split the skin. Cuts can range from very mild, like a paper cut, to very serious. Deep cuts can cause damage to underlying soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. If nerves are damaged, there may not be any pain in the area of the cut.

PUNCTURES

Puncture wounds occur when a sharp pointed object (such as a nail) pierces the skin. Some puncture wounds, such as gunshot wounds, can cause serious injury to blood vessels and vital organs.

AVULSIONS

An avulsion occurs when a cut is severe enough to partially or completely tear from the body a significant portion of skin or soft tissue, or even an entire body part, such as a finger.

FIRST AID FOR WOUNDS

Many wounds, such as scrapes and minor cuts, require only minor first aid. For these types of wounds:

*Clean the area thoroughly.

*Apply an antibiotic ointment (such as Bacitracin), if desired.

*Apply a small bandage, if needed.

For larger, more serious wounds:

*Control bleeding by covering the wound with a clean cloth or sterile dressing and applying pressure. Do not clean wounds that are bleeding profusely. Controlling bleeding is the main concern at this point.

*Elevate the injured area if broken bones are not present or suspected.

*Wrap and secure a bandage (you can use a strip of cloth, a rag, anything you can find) around the covering to keep it in place.

*Obtain medical attention.

Sometimes, injuries can cause internal bleeding. Internal bleeding can be serious, and even fatal in some cases, especially if medical attention is not obtained. If you suspect internal bleeding, seek medical care at once.

SIGNS OF INTERNAL BLEEDING

*An area of the body (like the stomach area) is very tender or feels very hard, and is swollen and/or bruised.

*Skin over the entire body may appear very pale or bluish, and may feel cool and moist.

*The victim is coughing up or vomiting blood.

*The victim may be very thirsty.

*The victim may feel drowsy, confused, faint, or may even be unconscious.

AND NOW, A FEW WORDS ABOUT INFECTION:

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