Supplies of Wound Care

Families use basic first aid kits to handle minor scrapes and scratches that occur often to people at play and work. Supplies from a first aid kit which may be useful for wound care are:

• Gauze Pads
  • Numerous gauze pads are available, but each provide a barrier to the outside environment and provide comfort.
• Medical Tape
  • Medical tape can be paper tape or cloth tape or a whole host of other types.

The selection of gauze pads or tapes is dependent upon what one is trying to achieve. For example, some patients have the need for a hypo-allergenic tape like paper tape. Other patients with very thin skin may tape only to secure a dressing to itself in which case cloth tape is used. However, wound care often requires supplies that are not found in a home or a car first aid kit. Wound care specific supplies may include: antibacterial soaps, gloves, and splash gowns, cleansing swabs, cleansing agents, topical antimicrobial ointment, large gauze pads, four by four gauze, ace bandages, or curlex rolls, or stretch roll gauze, and special burn dressing for very large wounds. A lather developed by using antibacterial soaps kill the germs on the caregiver’s skin. Some caregivers prevent cleansing agents from having a wound discarge from getting on to bare skin or clothing by using gloves and paper splash gowns. Cleansing swabs and sponges are used to apply the cleansing agents to the area around the wound or the wound itself. Typically antimicrobial agents are not applied directly to the wound unless directed by the doctor.  Topical ointments are applied directly to the wound. These ointments may be over the ocunter or prescription medicines as directed by the doctor. The may include topical antimicrobials or advanced medicines which used recombinant DNA technology to make growth factors. Cotton products are applied to the wound to absorb the wound’s discharge. This is also a layer of the defense that helps to keep the wound dryer. There are many types of products, many you already know, like four by four cotton gauze, ABD pads, curlex rolls, cling rolls, and special burn dressings, which are the same weave as a four by four gauze except it is 17 x 17 in. Ace bandage or curlex trap is the outer layer of the defense, which protexts the wound from the environment, dust, and dirt, and helps it to secure the inner dressing. It also provides the patient with a degree of comfort. All the supplies listed above are available through your local pharmacy.