Preventing Infection After An Injury
There are several ways to prevent infection following an injury, the most effective of which will depend to a large extent on the type and severity of the injury. Some injuries can be treated at home while others will need the assistance of a physician or clinic.
Small cuts, grazes and puncture wounds can often be kept infection free with the use of liquid skin - a relatively new addition to the first aid cupboard. This method of infection control comes as a liquid and is simply painted on to the skin at the site of injury. When it comes into contact with the air the liquid skin quickly forms a waterproof/germ proof barrier over the top of the injury.
It is important to thoroughly clean the wound with an antiseptic product before applying the liquid skin though. This is because any germs that are in the wound become trapped once the liquid is applied.
Any injury that breaks the skin, regardless of size and severity, can quickly become infected with a variety of germs, many of which are airborne. Larger or major injuries tend to have a bigger surface area for germs to attack though and so it is important to clean and dress this type of injury as quickly as possible for effective infection prevention. The following steps explain how to do this:
- Before treating the injury it is important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water so that you don't introduce infections to the open wound.
- If the injury is dirty you'll need to clean it by rinsing under running water before wiping it carefully with an antiseptic wipe. Alternatively you can use a clean ball of cotton wool and an antiseptic cleanser.
- Pat the area dry with a gauze swab and then place a sterile piece of gauze over the top of the injury. You'll then need to clean the skin in the surrounding area to kill any nearby germs.
- Once the area is completely clean and dry the gauze can be removed and the injury can be dressed with an appropriate, sterile dressing.
To keep the injury infection free, the dressing will need to be replaced on a regular basis. Areas that are at high risk of developing an infection may also require a course of antibiotics, for which a physician is needed. In any case, the easiest way to prevent infections within injuries is with swift treatment and good, ongoing hygiene.
