Scrub wounds

Scrub wounds

When playing and having fun, it is easy to get a scrape. Fortunately, it is usually more painful than serious. Here we give you advice and tips on how to clean and care for abrasions.

Treatment of abrasions

• Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning your own or other people's wounds.

• Remove sand, gravel, soil and other foreign particles - use sterile tweezers if necessary. Asphalt can cause permanent marks on the skin. See a doctor if you are unable to remove everything yourself.

• Clean the wound well to avoid infection in the wound. Clean the wound by rinsing with clean water or use a wound cleaner such as Pyrisept or Chlorhexidine (0.5-1 mg/ml). Isotonic saline (0.9% sodium chloride) or Norgesplaster wound wash can also be used. The skin around the wound can be washed with soapy water, but avoid getting soap in the wound itself.

• Stop the bleeding. Abrasions rarely bleed much, and the bleeding will usually stop on its own after a few minutes. If the wound continues to bleed, it may help to press lightly on the wound with, for example, a compress. If the wound is still bleeding after 20-30 minutes, a doctor should be contacted.

• Apply some wound salve (Bacimycin or Pyrisept). The wound salve will not heal the wound faster, but prevents infection in the scrub wound.

Plaster/compress

After the wound has been thoroughly cleaned, the wound can be covered with a plaster or compress secured with tape. Small wounds often heal just as well without a plaster, but a plaster will prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the wound.

The plaster should be changed if it has become wet or dirty, or if it comes loose from the skin.

Examples of plasters/compresses that are suitable for different types of abrasions:

Small wounds that drain little: abrasion plasters or other breathable plasters,

Larger wounds: Absorbent compress

If necessary, use Mepitel wound protection between the wound and the bandage. This keeps the wound moist so that it heals faster, and protects the wound. It also reduces pain when removing the bandage, and can be left on for up to 14 days, while the upper bandage is changed if necessary.