Wound Care
Wound Care Videos
See below for written instructions
How-To Information
Removing Your Wound Dressing
- Clean your hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Use a gloved hand or a plastic bag to remove the dressing.
- Inspect the dressing for drainage or any foul odor.
- Coil the dressing inside the glove or bag and discard.
- Use 60% alcohol-based hand gel to disinfect your hands.
Cleaning Your Wound
- Clean and prepare an area and set out your supplies.
- Clean your hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Soak clean gauze or cloth in tap water or sterile cleaning solution.
- Dab around the incision line, away from the center of the wound.
- Use a cotton swab to remove any blood or crust that has formed.
- Rinse the wound and carefully pat it dry with gauze or clean towel.
- Remove the dressing daily to inspect and clean around the wound.
Packing Your Wound
- Clean and prepare an area and set out your supplies.
- Clean hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Disinfect tweezers and scissors with alcohol.
- Cut pieces of tape longer than the wound and hang them on the side of a table edge.
- Remove old tape and dressing with a gloved hand or plastic bag.
- Check the old dressing for drainage or odor.
- Coil the dressing inside the glove or bag and discard.
- Clean your hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Put on clean gloves.
- Use tweezers to lift the packing material out and cut off a length.
- Use a cotton swab to gently push the packing into the wound and tunneled areas.
- Apply a dressing or bandage that extends at least 1 inch over the edges of the wound to cover. 13. Remove the gloves and clean your hands again.
Caring for Your Surgical Drain
- Clean your hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Using one hand, firmly hold the drain tubing near where it comes out of the skin.
- Pinch the tubing with your other hand using your thumb and first (index) finger.
- Using an alcohol pad, squeeze the tubing flat to push clots through to the drain.
- Use a gloved hand to open the cap on the end of the drain.
- Hold the opening away from you, and empty the drain contents into a measuring container.
- Record the amount and color of the drainage.
- Hold the drain away from you, squeeze the drain until it is flat, and close the cap.
- Pour the drainage down the sink or flush larger amounts down a toilet.
- Remove gloves and clean your hands again.
Changing the Dressing Around the Drain
- Use a gloved hand or a plastic bag to remove the dressing.
- Inspect the dressing for any drainage or any foul odor.
- Coil the dressing inside the glove or bag and discard.
- Clean your hands (wash or use 60% alcohol-based hand gel).
- Clean the wound and skin around the drain tubing.
- Open the package and remove the gauze dressing.
- Touching only the edges of the gauze, place the opening around the tubing of the drain.
- Layer bandages around the tubing and wound site to protect the drain from falling out.
- Tape the dressings or wrap a bandage around to keep them in place.