How to change a dressing at home

Dressing at home is one of the most important health and treatment cares that you should usually do every day or every other day after being discharged from the hospital. Usually, in open wounds and surgeries where the possibility of infection is high, the patient’s nurse should change the dressing every day. Wound dressing is of particular importance as an effective procedure in wound healing and reducing the risk of wound infection. In this article we are going to show you how Dressing at home Let’s introduce it completely sterile and clean, so accompany us.

Purpose of dressing change at home

Wounds may appear on the body for various reasons, including cuts, scratches, surgery, trauma, burns, etc. If the wound is deeper than one centimeter or has bleeding, it must be dressed by trained people. Changing the dressing at home is necessary to maintain cleanliness, facilitate healing and prevent infection. Below is the text of the purpose of changing the dressing at home:

1. Keeping the wound clean and disinfected: Over time, the wound dressing becomes dirty and becomes a place for bacteria and germs to accumulate. Changing the dressing keeps the wound clean and disinfects the wound.
2. Controlling and checking secretions: Another reason for changing dressings at home is checking and controlling wound secretions. The wound may have various secretions such as bleeding or other fluids. sick nurse When changing the dressing, he can check the wound secretions and inform the doctor if necessary.
3. Prevention of unpleasant odor: Wounds may smell unpleasant over time. Changing the dressing at home helps to clean the wound and prevent unpleasant odor.
4. Faster wound healing: Old dressings may delay wound healing. Therefore, in order to repair and heal the wound faster, you should change its dressing every day.
5. Diagnosing abnormal things in the wound: The patient’s nurse can observe the wound well when changing the dressing and report it to the doctor if the surgical sutures open or any abnormal things in the wound.
6. Caring for the skin around the wound: Every time you change the dressing at home, you can carefully check the skin around the wound and prevent redness and wounding of the tissues around the wound.

The main equipment needed for dressing at home

to replace Dressing at home You must use appropriate and hygienic equipment to prevent infection of the wound and its surroundings. You can change Dressing at home From Nursing services Get help including cervical nursing services. Below is a list of items needed to change the wound dressing at home:

1. Disposable gloves: You can use disposable gloves to remove the previous dressing.
2. Sterile gloves: You must use sterile gloves to wash the wound and apply a new dressing.
3. Disinfectant solution: Washing serum or betadine solution is used to disinfect the wound. Usually for replacement Dressing at home Washing serum is used. (The doctor usually determines it for you.)
4. Scissors: for replacement Dressing at home You need clean scissors. Scissors are used to remove the previous dressing (if it is sticky) or to cut the adhesive of the dressing.
5. Dressing adhesive: There are different types of dressing adhesives, such as Tri-M, Leukoplast, Hisiri, etc. Straw adhesives are usually used for dressing. Of course, pay attention to the fact that the choice of glue depends on the location of the wound and the sensitivity of the person’s skin.
6. Sterile gas: also you to change Dressing at home You need sterile gas. Its number depends on the area of ​​the wound, the extent of the wound, the amount of secretions, etc.
7. Garbage bin or nylon bag for infectious waste: after changing the dressing, you should put the used materials in the infectious waste bin (yellow bin) or nylon bags for infectious waste.
8. Dressing ready: if for replacement Dressing at home You use ready-made dressings available in the pharmacy, you will not need sterile gauze, dressing glue, scissors, etc.

Other equipment needed for dressing

In addition to the devices mentioned above, you may need these devices: Irrigator: You will need a clean irrigator to pierce the washing serum and use it.

Ointment: Sometimes some doctors prescribe special ointments for wounds, including antibiotic ointments or vitamin ointments. In these cases, it is necessary to use the ointment on the wound after washing and drying it.

Small pad: Sometimes you can use small pads or nylon covers while changing dressings at home to prevent soiling.

Sample container: Sometimes the doctor prescribes to take a sample from the wound. In these cases, you need a sample container and a special sample removal device. This is usually done in a hospital.

Steps to change the dressing

As we said, dressing at home is a care and treatment process that is done in order to protect the wound, facilitate its healing and prevent infection around the wound. You can do this yourself at home or from Nursing services Get help. We advise you to leave it to trained and experienced people to change the sterile dressing and prevent infection. The general steps of dressing change are:

1. Washing hands: To change the dressing at home, it is necessary to wash your hands with soap and water before anything else.
2. Removing the previous dressing: In this step of changing the dressing at home, you must wear disposable gloves. Then remove the previous dressing and throw it into the sterile bucket. If the dressing is stuck to the wound, first wet it with serum and then remove it.
3. Wearing sterile gloves: After removing the previous dressing, throw away your disposable gloves and wear sterile gloves.
4. Washing the wound: Disinfect and clean the wound using a suitable washing solution.
5. Drying the wound: after washing the wound, make sure to dry it by blow. If you were prescribed an ointment, use it on the wound.
6. Placing gauze on the wound: At this stage of dressing at home, it is necessary to put sterile gauze on the wound. Of course, if you use a ready-made dressing, put it on the wound. (Place it in a sterile form.)
7. Gluing the dressing: After applying the gauze, use glue to fix the gauze.

In this way, you can do dressing at home easily. If you have any questions about changing the dressing, you can get help from us.