How To Clean Wound With Syringe
Preparation
1. Scrub hands thoroughly with soap
and disinfected water.
2. Put on medical gloves to prevent
the spread of infectious disease.
3. Prepare a disinfectant solution
of 1 oz. povidone-iodine and 1 liter disinfected water. See "How to Disinfect
Water." Set the disinfectant solution aside for about five minutes.
Irrigation and Scrubbing
1. Scrub the area around the wound
using a nailbrush and disinfectant solution. Scrubbing may be painful to
the injured person, but it is important that all debris be removed.
2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers using
the disinfectant solution.
3. Remove all large pieces of dirt,
debris, dead skin and flakes of clotted blood from the wound.
4. Draw the disinfectant solution
into an irrigation syringe.
5. Hold the syringe perpendicular
to the wound, about 2 to 3 inches above it. Angle the syringe and tilt
the wound so that the solution will flood the wound and drain away from
the opening.
6. Press down on the plunger to emit
a forceful stream of solution.
7. Repeat the irrigation using 1/2
to 1 liter of solution. You may need to use more if the wound is especially
dirty.
8. Rinse the wound liberally with
disinfected water, because the disinfectant solution may cause irritation
to the skin if left on.
9. Recheck the wound for bleeding;
blood clots may have been dislodged. You may have to apply pressure to
stop bleeding. See "How to Stop Mild Bleeding During First Aid."
10. Check the clothing and area around
the injured person to make sure his or her skin won't be exposed to disinfectant
solution for a prolonged period of time, because this may cause burning.
11. Bandage the wound immediately
after it has been thoroughly cleansed of all debris. See "How to Bandage
a Wound During First Aid."