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AS A MINIMUM: In your first aid kit, you should have Bandages, plasters, skin closure dressings, Adhesive strips, Adhesive tape for securing dressings, and scissors, Antiseptic spray or wipes and a Basic first aid book or leaflet.
Having Aloe Vera, Stingose or other soothing products may be helpful.
Things to Remember.
Non-stick wound pad dressings absorb fluid, and they won’t stick to the wound.
Film dressings are waterproof and bacteria-proof moist dressings that do not absorb exudates*.
Non-waterproof island dressings have a non-adherent wound pad, which absorbs wound exudates* without sticking to the wound.
Self-adhesive waterproof and bacteria-proof island dressings have a special transparent film that allows the wound to be monitored.
(*blood, platelets, plasma e.c.t.)
Advice across the board.
Be aware of basic first-aid and have a well stocked first aid kit handy.
Make sure you are up to date with your tetanus jab (check with your GP – you should have a tetanus vaccination every ten years). Tetanus is a serious infection.
Avoid alcohol and drugs - being intoxicated might mean you cause more damage than you planned, and might affect your ability to react to an emergency.
Work on developing your other coping skills, to reduce the desire to self-harm.
Don’t ever feel that you are unworthy of medical care, and try not to let the possible response of medical staff put you off seeking help – your health is more important.
Take care of yourself - you might not feel like it at the time but may later be glad.
IF YOU'RE EVER IN ANY DOUBT AS TO HOW SERIOUS THE INJURY IS, ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.
Practitioners who want to help people who self-harm to treat their own superficial and acute wounds offer them the following guidance:
1. Ensure that a first-aid kit is accessible and ready for use.
2. After self-wounding, stay calm, breathe slowly and reassure yourself that you are going to look after yourself as well as possible.
3. Ensure that your hands are clean and dry, or wear clean, non-sterile gloves.
4. Stem bleeding by applying gentle pressure to wounds with a clean cloth that will not disintegrate and leave debris in the wound.
5. Clean the wound with warm bottled or drinkable tap water. Cuts benefit from large volumes of fluid applied at constant high pressure from a tap.
6. When the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been cleaned, make sure its edges are dry.
7. Close the wound using tissue adhesive or surgical tape.
Good Wound Care
A saline (weak salt) solution can be used to clean most wounds.
Antiseptics can also be absorbed directly into the body through deep or large open wounds, and may make the person feel unwell. Thus, this isn’t a good choice to use.
Avoid putting irritating agents on the wound. Keep cleansing and dressings simple and do not pick the scabs off as the wound heals, as this can cause scarring. Crusty scabs should be moistened.
Caring for, and Disguising Scar Tissue
Things to think about;
Scars are more likely to form on joint areas such as the knees and elbows.
Infected wounds are more likely to cause scarring - try to keep the wound clean.
Skin closure plasters and adhesive strips can help keep some wounds closed, which can help prevent further scarring.
Picking at scabs interferes with natural healing and is likely to worsen scars.
The British Red Cross offers a skin camouflage service, free of charge. Their trained volunteers can teach individuals how to self-apply specialist cover creams. The service is provided free of charge and referrals are accepted from GPs and consultants. Camouflage creams are available on prescription and last between six months and two years, depending on the area to be camouflaged and the frequency of use.
TO do:
Rubbing creams containing vitamin E into healed scar tissue, taking vitamin E supplements, or having a diet rich in, for example, wheat germ, nuts, vegetable oils, eggs and green vegetables can help speed healing and lessen the appearance of scar tissue.
(HOWEVER, it can cause contact dermatitis in up to 33% of users and in some cases it may worsen scar appearance.)
PurCellin
Rubbing oils containing PurCellin, which aids the absorption by the skin of other chemicals, can be used to moisturize the healed skin and scar tissue.
Cocoa butter
Rubbing cocoa butter into healed scar tissue can help healing and reduce keloid scarring, an unusual condition in which there is overgrowth of dense tissue away from the edges of wounds after they have healed.
Paw Paw Ointment
Paw Paw ointment softens the skin to an amazing degree, and aids in scar deduction. It works best on dry, chapped, or damaged skin. (However, it is petroleum based, and so isn’t an ideal choice for burns.)
Pressure Applying
Constant pressure to surface blood vessels can flatten and soften scar tissue, but should not be attempted if it causes pain or discomfort.
Medical procedures
Medical treatments, including the use of prescribed creams, can be suggested by GPs or nurses.
Massage
As soon as the wound is knitted, massage therapy can be performed. During the initial immature stages of wound recovery, it is imperative that a gentle approach be taken.
See more @ Safe Pace Network
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